Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding all issues on appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to further adjudicate or address these claims.

The veteran was granted a rating of 20 percent for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine prior to May 4, 2005, and this rating was not increased from May 4, 2005.

The veteran's thoracolumbar muscular strain is not manifested by ankylosis, forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, incapacitating episodes, or objective neurologic manifestations. Therefore, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the condition has not been met.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is being remanded to schedule a new VA examination.

The appeal was partially granted, as new and material evidence was found to reopen the claim for hearing loss. However, service connection was denied for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nerves and gastric hypermobility, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with multilevel disc herniation.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left and right knee strains, cervical strain, and lumbar strain due to a lack of evidence supporting higher disability evaluations.

The veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent from May 28, 2003 to August 12, 2004 and 40 percent since May 1, 2005. A separate rating of 10 percent for mild, incomplete paralysis of the left sciatic nerve was granted during that period.

The veteran's PTSD was found to be characterized by sleep impairment, depressed mood, anxiety, anger, hypervigilance, isolative behavior, nightmares, irritability, and intrusive thoughts. However, the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, bilateral shoulder disorders and COPD are being remanded for additional medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and low back disorder as there was no credible medical evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current conditions and his active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for right foot and left foot disability, left knee disability, and back disability.

The veteran is not shown to have a disability manifested by high cholesterol, and therefore service connection for the condition was denied.

The appeal was partially granted, as new and material evidence was found to support the claim for a low back disorder. However, no service connection was established for other conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded to the RO for further development, including an orthopedic examination.

The veteran's low back disability (lumbar spinal stenosis) was incurred in or aggravated by active duty.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorders, depression, and a bilateral leg disorder to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Board grants service connection for a low back disorder and a left foot disorder, but only to the extent that each has been aggravated by the veteran's service-connected left knee disorder.

The veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for chronic left L5 radiculopathy by electromyelograph associated with his low back disability, effective November 15, 2005.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including a lumbosacral strain, as there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury and no medical evidence linking his current condition to military service.

The Veteran's low back disorder was granted service connection, while a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids was denied.