Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the extent of impairment due to his service-connected right knee and lumbar spine disabilities. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability, manifested by degenerative disc disease with stenosis, was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected Osgood-Schlatter's Disease of both knees. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's low back disability, specifically whether it is related to service. The veteran will be afforded a VA examination to address this issue.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, which was previously denied in April 1959. The case is now remanded for further development.

The veteran's low back and right leg disabilities are not service-connected, while his left hip disability is found to be related to his service-connected shell fragment wound. The rating for the shell fragment wound remains at 10%.

The veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for his lumbar spine disability was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent disabling effective February 11, 2006. The current rating reflects the severity of his intervertebral disc syndrome with mild canal stenosis.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder and neck pain are not service-connected, but granted a 30% rating for his migraine headaches based on the frequency of his prostrating attacks.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any version of the spine regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right knee and hip disabilities, but granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied service connection for a back disability. The effective date is not specified.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability and neurological manifestations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his tinnitus was related to service but not meeting criteria for an increased rating or separate disability ratings. The right knee and left knee disabilities were found to be rated appropriately under the applicable diagnostic codes. The lumbar spine disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a psychiatric disability, finding no current disabilities exist that are related to service.

The veteran's service-connected mechanical lower back pain was granted a noncompensable rating prior to February 6, 2004 and a compensable rating of 10 percent after that date. Service connection for upper back pain, chronic upper respiratory infections (claimed as sinus condition), left hip pain, and right foot disability were all granted. The veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left elbow and cyst of the left knee each received noncompensable ratings.

The veteran's lumbosacral spine injury, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, results in moderate to severe pain on motion, some loss of sensation, and radiation into his lower extremities. The VA has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder, right testicle atrophy, left knee arthritis, and left hand arthritis with retained foreign bodies. The veteran's conditions are found to be due to injuries sustained during his active military service.

The veteran's low back disability, rated at 20 percent since April 1, 2003, is now rated as 40 percent effective from that date. The radiculopathy associated with the low back disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability may be related to service, but an additional VA examination is needed to determine this conclusively.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a bilateral foot disorder, and a low back disorder due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The veteran did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and found that it is related to active service. The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% throughout the appeal period, but the Board determined that a higher rating (70%) is warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for rib injury residuals, pelvic injury residuals, bilateral hip degenerative joint disease, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The veteran's claim of a lumbar disorder is reopened.