Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is unable to proceed with the merits of her claims.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for his cervical spine disability was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent for this condition. Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was also granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, GERD, and a right ankle disability were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for right foot drop, low back disability, right hip disability, and left knee disability as a residual of a total right knee replacement surgery performed at a VA medical facility in January 1990. The case has been remanded to allow for further examination and evaluation.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral shoulder, arm, and leg disorders. The appellant did not have combat service in Vietnam, and there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that would support service connection.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating due to moderate limitation of motion without ankylosis or neurological manifestations.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, and the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, refractive error, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and arthritis as secondary to his service-connected shrapnel wounds.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notification and development.

The veteran's service-connected low back disorder has resulted in him being wheelchair bound and unable to ambulate, meeting the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30%, and his thoracic spine and lumbar strain are rated at 20%. The breast reduction surgery condition remains at a 10% rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lower back disability and radiculopathy of both legs, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his mechanical low back pain and left ankle disorder, as well as service connection for a bilateral hip disability. The evidence did not support an increase in rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the veteran's current back disability, hypertension, heart disease, skin cancer, and PTSD are related to his military service. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Board found no evidence of a current lumbosacral strain, cervical spine disability, or left shoulder disability related to service.,The veteran's current disabilities are attributed to post-service injuries and degenerative changes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The veteran's hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for a disability, tinnitus could not be matched during an examination, and his low back strain did not result in functional loss warranting a compensable evaluation under the revised spine rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying stressors. The veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a psychiatric disability will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral spine disability did not manifest until several years after service and is not related to any aspect of service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.