Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him permanently bedridden, and he is not confined to his home by the service-connected disabilities. Therefore, special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is denied.

The appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected low back strain.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and joint pain due to undiagnosed illness were reopened, but the claim for residuals of fracture of the right thumb was denied. The claim for bilateral post-traumatic elbow epicondylitis was also denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such a nature and severity as to preclude him from gainful employment, resulting in the grant of a total disability evaluation for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, as the evidence did not support an increase.

The appeal is remanded for further development of the evidence regarding the veteran's back disability claim.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and sacroiliitis is rated at 40 percent, and service connection for sciatica of the left lower extremity was granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent pelvic pain and thoracic scoliosis/lumbosacral pain were remanded to the RO for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board determined that the appellant's claims for service connection and an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to determine if the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is aggravated by his service-connected compression fracture, and to consider the claims for diabetes mellitus and hypertension in relation to this issue.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was reopened, but ultimately denied as not being related to his active service.

The veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant was denied because the evidence did not show that he had loss or loss of use of at least one lower extremity, which is required to establish entitlement.

The Board granted service connection for low back disability but denied service connection for bilateral knee disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was reopened, but a rating in excess of 10 percent for atopic eczema and active candidiasis was not granted.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder with walking problems was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, a low back disability, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as there was no evidence of a current disability or evidence establishing that an event, injury, or disease occurred in service.

The Board remands the claims for a comprehensive VA examination to address the approximate onset date or etiology of the veteran's heart disease, left elbow disability, and low back disorder.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for an enlarged prostate, claimed as due to herbicide exposure, was withdrawn. Service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was granted based on credible evidence of a combat-related stressor.

The veteran's broken left leg was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and right knee disorder are being remanded for an examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any currently diagnosed low back or right knee disorders.