Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. The evidence did not support the veteran's claims of in-service injury or chronic conditions.,There is no medical evidence linking any current low back, right ankle, or left ankle disabilities to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and further development is required.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy, and has also found that he is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disability.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's low back disorder prior to September 24, 2004 and a 60 percent rating thereafter. The evidence did not support higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's service-connected low back disorder is characterized by severe limitation of motion, mild to moderate spasm and subjective complaints of pain accompanied by symptoms compatible with mild neurological deficit in the bilateral extremities. The claim for increased evaluation was granted.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder and denied his claims for bilateral ankle condition and an increased rating for pes planus. The decision also reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a back disorder.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of migraine headaches and tinea pedis were remanded. The Board denied service connection for a disorder of the nervous system, chronic dermatophytosis (other than tinea pedis), neurosis, degenerative arthritis, DDD, and forearm disorder as they are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a back disorder or residuals of a right thumb fracture with tendonitis that were incurred in or aggravated by his active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is not related to active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied a claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for recurrent low back strain with degenerative disc disease at L1-2 and L5-S1 (low back disability), finding that the evidence did not support such a rating.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain treatment records from Sioux Falls, South Dakota and to conduct a VA examination for an opinion on whether any current low back disorder, including a fracture at L5, is related to the veteran's active service. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected arthritis of the low back with chronic pain syndrome, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the current VA rating schedule.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic low back pain was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective from May 17, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that his pre-existing back disability did not worsen during service and was not aggravated by any in-service injury.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back pain, shoulder disorders, hip condition, knee and ankle issues, foot and toe joint problems, fatigue, and joint problems. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to military service.

The veteran's lumbar disc disease is manifested by severe limitation of motion with pain, tenderness on palpation, muscle spasms and flare-ups. The Board finds that the disability warrants a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a back disorder, and a skin disorder other than tinea cruris. The claim for an increased evaluation for tinea cruris was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if any current back disability is etiologically related to service, including whether it pre-existed service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the service connection claims for various disorders, including right knee disorder, left knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, right foot numbness, low back pain, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).