Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral anatomy, spondylosis at L5-S1, rudimentary disc space at S1-2 and bilateral meralgia paresthetica were granted.

The appeal is remanded to afford the veteran a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbar scoliosis was remanded to ensure compliance with the requirements for increased rating claims.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The case is remanded for additional development, including the issuance of an SOC and obtaining any recent treatment records from the Jackson, Mississippi VAMC.

The veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain is not productive of flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 60 degrees or less; combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine of 120 degrees or less; or muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis.

The veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and nerve damage resulting from degenerative disc disease have been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left hip, and right knee disorders as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's asthma, degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, skin condition on the back of the head, left foot rash disorder, and right foot rash disorder are unrelated to his service and not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support the claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding no evidence linking the condition to his active military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back, headache, and neck disorders were not related to his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of L5-S1, lateral ligament sprain of the right knee with right hip and leg pain, and pseudofolliculitis barbae as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's active military service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a neck disability, a back disability, and a left leg disability as there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or incident that could be linked to the claimed disabilities.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent, currently evaluated at 40 percent, for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with osteophyte formation at several levels; herniated disc at L3-L4; bulging discs at L4-L5 and L5-S1 with narrowing of neural foramina more severe on the left and lumbar myositis.

The veteran's initial rating for degenerative changes of the low back was increased to 40 percent disabling as of August 10, 2005.

The Board remands the case to the AMC/RO for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for the veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, epicondylitis of the right elbow, and subpatellar chondromalacia of both knees. The claim for service connection for heart disability was remanded.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for multiple disabilities, including a back disability with arthritis, neck disability with arthritis, bilateral foot disability with arthritis, chronic herpetic neuritis/ganglionitis (claimed as a bilateral leg condition and arthritis), residuals of a head injury, cortically based visual field loss and cataracts, to include as secondary to an in-service head injury, and seizures, to include as secondary to an in-service head injury, for further development.