Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the veteran's claimed psychiatric and dental/temporomandibular joint disabilities.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left knee and ankle disorders, spondylosis (low back disorder), spondylolisthesis (low back disorder), post-operative right foot and right ankle condition with degenerative joint disease, hypertension, and bilateral tinea pedis. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening any of these claims.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral spine disability was granted, with a current rating of 10 percent. The neurological manifestations were separately rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability warrants a 10 percent evaluation, effective March 24, 2004.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those presumptively associated with herbicide exposure, are denied.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death before a final decision could be made.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with disc disease and left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective from March 2001. The ratings for right and left knee internal derangement remain at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the veteran's back disability and neurological disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected right knee and left hip disabilities, and denied his requests for increased ratings for his right knee disability and residuals of his left hip injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of increased ratings for his right ulnar neuropathy and right wrist scar, as well as service connection for a low back disability and bilateral shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disabilities are not service connected, as they are not shown to be related to his military service or directly caused by a pre-existing condition.

The VA Appeals Resource Center granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain effective June 20, 2002. The claim is denied as there are no grounds to grant a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, qualifying for special monthly compensation benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination to determine if the veteran's current foot or spinal problems are related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right knee condition, upper and lower back condition, and asthma. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his previously denied claims.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for higher ratings for his low back strain with degenerative disc disease, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent before November 15, 2005 or a rating higher than 20 percent since that date.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder and low back disorder, as well as his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a small intestine perforation were denied due to lack of evidence establishing a direct or secondary relationship between the claimed conditions and his military service.