Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, effective January 27, 2003.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma or a post-operative herniated lumbar disc, as the conditions were not present during service and there is insufficient medical evidence linking them to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for lumbar strain. Service connection is granted.,A cervical condition was not incurred in or aggravated by service, but the veteran currently suffers from a chronic cervical condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information in the claims file, requiring a VA examination and review.

The VA determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's spine disorders.

The Board has found that the veteran's tinnitus and low back disability are related to his military service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his low back disability claim and continued a 10 percent rating for his right knee disability. The case is being remanded to schedule an examination for his right knee.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the veteran for various examinations.

The veteran's initial rating for chronic lumbosacral strain with hip, thigh, buttocks, and calf pain was granted at a 40 percent rating from September 25, 1996 to September 23, 2002. From September 23, 2002 to April 20, 2005, the veteran's disability warranted an initial staged rating of 50 percent. Since April 20, 2005, a 60 percent rating has been assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, cervical and lumbar disorders, retained metal in the left knee, right ankle injury residuals, and unspecified right foot disorder (history of plantar warts). The appeals were all denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the February 2001 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that his disability did not warrant a higher rating at any time since the original date of service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking the back condition to the knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of his nonservice-connected back disorder as secondary to his service-connected right inguinal hernia, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic low back disability during active service and that the current symptoms are not causally related to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's hearing impairment rating schedule.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to potential missing records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back strain warrants a 10 percent rating, effective from October 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including rheumatic fever with heart murmur, ear disability, a left knee disorder, back disorder, shortened right leg, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and lower extremity neuropathy. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.