Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability related to the veteran's in-service injury and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective October 1, 2002.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbosacral disc diseases have been remanded due to the need for a more current VA examination, as well as for obtaining SSA records.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's sinusitis has been rated as 30 percent disabling, resolving all reasonable doubt in her favor. The right ankle and back disabilities have not yet been addressed due to the need for further development.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 and granted a compensable evaluation (10%) for status post right heel fracture.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, neck disorder, and right ear hearing loss. However, these claims were denied on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's back and neck disabilities are related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's back disability does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation and denied his claims for increased rating, extension of temporary total evaluation, and TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that they are properly rated as 10 percent disabling due to painful motion caused by arthritis. The claim for service connection for a back disability was not addressed in this decision.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a back disability, claimed as secondary to service-connected pes planus with hammertoes.

The Board has restored service connection for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the RO's decision to sever this condition from his service-connected fractured sacrum was improper.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any low back condition. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether the current symptoms are related to service or other incidents, and if they were caused by the service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left leg.

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

The Board found that the veteran's right knee, hip, foot, back, and respiratory disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preexisting conditions were determined to have existed prior to service and no aggravation was shown during service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for her service-connected Degenerative Disc Disease at L2-S1, currently rated at 40 percent. The Board found that there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities, as well as his right shoulder instability and plantar fasciitis. The veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, but denied service connection for a low back disability. The veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to the need for a medical nexus opinion regarding the veteran's low back disability.

The veteran's service records do not show any diagnosed respiratory, knee, ankle, arthritis, urinary tract infection, low back strain, eye condition, migraine headaches, or stomach conditions. The VA examinations and treatment records also did not provide evidence of these conditions during the appeal period. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.