Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for the veteran's low back disability based on the current level of impairment.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for the right knee and for service connection for the left knee and back, secondary to the right knee, for additional development.

The veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service.

The appeal is being remanded to provide the veteran with proper VCAA notice and to obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and denied increased ratings for thrombophlebitis of the left leg and postoperative right ligamentous debridement with degenerative arthritis of the right knee.

The veteran is not entitled to a special home adaptation grant, but urinary incontinence is service-connected as secondary to his lumbar spine condition. The claim for PTSD has been reopened and must be further developed.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for mechanical low back strain, chronic fatigue syndrome, and stuttering were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a back disability, and an initial compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids were denied. However, the claim for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear was granted.

The veteran's service-connected low back disorder, standing alone, is of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's lumbar strain and herniated discs at L3-4 and L4-5 are service-connected, with the lumbar strain related to military service and the herniated discs secondary to her service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board remanded the case for additional development and readjudication due to an inadequate reasons and bases provided in a previous decision.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, impairment of the right lower extremity, major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, left ring finger arthralgia, and dermatitis. However, it granted service connection for tinnitus.

The appeal was denied for service connection of inguinal hernia and arthritis of multiple joints, as well as for earlier effective dates for disability pension and increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disorder, low back disorder, and diabetes mellitus as not being supported by new and material evidence or medical nexus to his service-connected left foot stress fracture.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was reopened, but her claim for a left ankle disorder was not.

The veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for low back strain with anomalous lumbosacral joint were denied.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, to include heart disease leading to a heart valve replacement, and a low back disorder as there was no evidence of in-service injury or event that caused the current conditions.

The veteran's lumbar radiculopathy was rated at 20 percent for the entire period of claim, while his dorsolumbar paravertebral myositis did not warrant a higher rating.