Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including spina bifida occulta S1, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service and that he did not have an inservice injury or incident resulting in this condition.

The veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent disabling, and her anxiety disorder is rated at 30 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.,There are no indications of service connection via the PACT Act, Agent Orange exposure, Camp Lejeune, radiation exposure, Gulf War Syndrome, or new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back and lower extremity conditions are not related to his active service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The veteran's dysthymic disorder and lower back disability were granted increased ratings, effective May 21, 2002. The TDIU benefits were also granted with the same effective date.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and denied service connection for a heart disorder. The veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to her military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar strain disability warrants a 10 percent evaluation since April 19, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a lumbar or cervical spine disability related to his military service and therefore denied both claims.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain with pain radiating to the left hip, effective from November 13, 2007. The initial claim was denied prior to this date.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical disability, finding that it is not related to service or secondary to his service-connected right shoulder tendonitis. The claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain was granted as it is considered a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses for his claimed conditions, and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of increased rating for lumbosacral strain has been denied as the earliest appropriate effective date is prior to April 12, 1995.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and tinea pedis, do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and compliance with VCAA notification requirements.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disorder and granted service connection. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and low back disabilities due to new evidence. The Board finds that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a left femur fracture.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability, currently rated at 10 percent. The VA found that the veteran's disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or neurological manifestations.