Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability at any time during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, throat disorder, and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine effective April 27, 2007. The claims for increase in ratings for degenerative disc disease prior to that date and for service connection for bilateral knee disability were denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for instability, with no additional rating for limitation of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, as there was no evidence showing that his current condition was related to his time in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was remanded for a VA orthopedic examination to assess the current nature of any current back disorder, as well as any relationship between a current back disorder and the Veteran's active military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a gastrointestinal disorder, claimed as diverticulosis and gastroenteritis. The peptic ulcer disease was already service-connected at 10 percent, but the Veteran sought an increased rating which is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected orthopedic conditions are being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of these disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a low back injury, finding that the Veteran's current low back condition is related to his active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of low back strain did not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for neurological manifestations in the right lower extremity.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including providing proper notice and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board grants service connection for tinnitus and remands the claims for increased ratings and additional service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his chronic lumbar strain, as the evidence did not show that the disability warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claims for panic disorder with agoraphobia and mild multilevel spondelotic disease of the lumbar spine were denied, as the evidence did not support a higher rating than that already assigned.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to readjudicate the claims.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability and denied service connection for an upper respiratory disability, sinusitis, to include allergic rhinitis, and hypertension. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and re-examine the Veteran's low back condition.

The Veteran's lumbar flexion is to 90 degrees and extension to 30 degrees without muscle spasm, guarding or localized tenderness. The Veteran experiences mild to moderate chronic S1 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The appellant's request for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant was also denied.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination.