Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for lumbar disc disease and granted it, finding new and material evidence to support the claim.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities have been granted initial disability ratings of 10 percent each, effective from October 1, 2003.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for medical examinations and further review of the claims file. The veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand disability, psychiatric disability, and low back disability were denied as there is no medical evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence was against the claims.

The Board found that service connection is not warranted for a low back, bilateral leg (including left ankle), or bilateral knee disability. The veteran's claims of service connection for a headache disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc/degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are at least as likely as not related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated at 30 percent, and his residuals of a lower back injury with lumbar disc disease are separately evaluated as 20 percent for mild partial paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as his forward flexion is limited to no less than 40 degrees and there are no other factors indicating such limitation.

The veteran is seeking service connection for lumbar radiculopathy and neurological neuropathy, which he claims are related to his military service. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board found no current low back or right ankle disability and denied service connection for these conditions. The veteran's bilateral patellofemoral syndrome was not shown to be related to service, but the RO awarded a noncompensable evaluation effective from the day following his discharge from service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims. The Board also found no direct link between the veteran's current osteoarthritis of the cervical and lumbar spines and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current spine disorder is not related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for a back disorder and found that new evidence did not relate to an established fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The claim was also denied on the secondary basis as well.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's service-connected left foot and cervical spine disabilities. The RO must arrange for a VA examination of the veteran, obtain all outstanding medical records, and provide the veteran with another opportunity to submit evidence.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed disabilities, including those related to herbicide exposure.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and cervical spine spondylosis have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and increased ratings for left shoulder and right knee disabilities, finding no current disability or chronic condition in service.

The veteran is seeking higher initial ratings for his service-connected DJD of the lumbar spine and cervical spine. The Board has ordered a new examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder, concluding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for dysthymic disorder was granted, but the effective date of the grant is denied. The case regarding lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease has a denial due to lack of evidence prior to November 19, 1996.