Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with disc extrusion was denied as the April 1975 decision that initially denied service connection is final and no new and material evidence to reopen the claim was received prior to April 28, 1999.

The veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 30 percent from August 14, 2006, and 50 percent from August 14, 2007. The low back disability was not addressed in the decision.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, and determined that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen claims for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a back disorder.

The claim for service connection for arthritis secondary to service-connected meningitis with thoracic outlet syndrome is reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for other claimed disabilities remain pending.

The veteran's low back disorder and anxiety and dysthymic disorders are related to conditions identified in service, granting service connection for both.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder as there was no evidence of a nexus between the condition and the veteran's military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, residuals of penile surgery, hemorrhoids, a low back disorder, and headaches as the evidence did not establish a link to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability was not found to warrant a higher rating, but the veteran did receive an increased rating of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing and obtaining new VA examinations.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is manifested by pain, muscle spasms and some limitation of motion. The measured range of forward flexion during an October 2007 VA examination was 55 degrees.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and further development.

The veteran's left hip, left knee and lumbar spine disabilities were not related to service or secondary to his service-connected pes planus and hallux valgus.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinus bradycardia and hypertension were denied, as there was no evidence of current disabilities. The initial ratings for sinusitis, recurrent headaches, chronic strain of the lumbosacral spine, status post right knee menisectomy, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee were also denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's knee and back disabilities, finding that the current 10 percent ratings were appropriate given the evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's attempts to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, residuals of a lumbar spine injury with degenerative disc disease, and a skin condition claimed as a rash on chest and back due to lack of new and material evidence.

The evidence does not support the conclusion that the claimed low back disability is related to the veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current conditions are related to his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine as secondary to his bilateral knee disabilities.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and schedule a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and schizophrenia were denied, while the claim for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder was remanded. The veteran also has depression.