Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees and lumbar disc disease, finding that these conditions are not proximately due to or a result of the veteran's service-connected pes planus or right ankle sprain.

The VA determined that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the veteran's claimed low back disability, which may be related to either an April 1997 lifting injury or a May 1995 car accident. The case will then be reviewed for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability. The veteran's current low back disability is found to have originated in service.,The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis-C resulting from VA medical treatment in June 1992 has been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, and also denied a higher rating for his left knee post-traumatic arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for a chronic back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus with sciatica pain to both lower extremities, arthritis, and anxiety disorder. The veteran's service connection claim for these conditions was decided on the merits.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back and bilateral knee disabilities to his military service, including parachute jumps. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a disability of the kidney, liver, spleen, or colon related to active service.,The VA examiner diagnosed the veteran with past history of injury to the kidney, liver, spleen, and bowel but currently no clinical evidence to support any kidney, liver, spleen, or colon pathology.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from the date of the claim. The rating is based on limitation of motion and associated neurologic symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities related to his service, and therefore, service connection is denied for head injury residuals, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, resulting in a denial.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and low back disability, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted to support these claims.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability, characterized by spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease, has not resulted in any limitation of range of motion to the extent that would warrant a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or low back disability for VA compensation purposes. The claim for service connection is denied. For his chronic low back disability, additional development is needed as the evidence is insufficient to determine whether it had its origin during active military service.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and his DDD at L4-L5 and L5-S1 is rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from May 2005. The criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a back disorder, dental problems, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The medical evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further clarification regarding the veteran's lumbar spine disability, including its etiology and relationship to service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, and denied reopening of a claim for service connection for psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction.