Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted, and the initial rating for migraine headaches was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed orthopedic and left thumb disabilities as there was no evidence of a disability during active duty or within applicable presumptive periods, and the current conditions were not related to his military service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for consideration of additional evidence and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine at the L5-S1 level, as the veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder due to asbestos exposure and a low back disorder are being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board remands the case for a new VA examination to reassess the severity of the veteran's service-connected right knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The veteran is entitled to compensation under § 1151 for right and left below-the-knee amputations, but not for a low back disability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20% for lumbosacral traumatic degenerative changes, as the evidence did not show limitation of thoracolumbar forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain/degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted service connection, while claims for Raynaud's syndrome and varicose veins were denied. The issues related to atrophy of the right lower extremity, Raynaud's syndrome/neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and postoperative residuals of bilateral inguinal hernia repair are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, to include spondylolisthesis, based on new and material evidence that the condition was aggravated during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, as there was no credible evidence linking his current condition to active military service.

The veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain did not meet the criteria for a higher initial or increased rating.

The veteran's residuals of L1 burst fracture of the lumbosacral spine have not been shown to be more severe than currently rated, and an evaluation in excess of 40 percent is not warranted.

The veteran's claims for increased initial disability ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The Board denied increased ratings for the right hip and knee, reopened a claim for service connection for a low back disorder, and denied service connection for a right foot disorder.

The Board denied service connection for refractive error, a back disorder, residuals of a nose injury, and a left arm scar as there was no evidence to support the claims.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability but denied it on the merits. The claim for degenerative joint disease of the hips was also denied.

The veteran's lumbar spine and sciatic conditions were rated at 20 percent, and service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board remands the claim for a low back condition to schedule the veteran for an appropriate VA examination.

The appellant withdrew his appeals for service connection for PTSD, depression, patellofemoral stress syndrome with degenerative joint disease of the right knee secondary to service-connected instability of the right ankle with degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease secondary to service-connected instability of the right ankle with degenerative joint disease, status post arthroscopy and debridement, and mechanical low back pain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to the service-connected instability of the right and left ankle with degenerative joint disease.