Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The veteran was granted an initial rating of 40 percent for the service-connected arthritis and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, effective September 26, 2003.

The veteran's service-connected low back disorder was rated at 40 percent effective February 28, 2008, and the right hip disorder remained noncompensable.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability did not have onset during active service or within one year of service, is not etiologically related to active service, and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected left knee disability.

The Board remanded the claims for further development and readjudication.

The veteran's neck, shoulder, and back disability was not caused by her period of military service. The evidence does not support a rating higher than 10 percent for the right or left knee disabilities.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 30 percent disability rating for right patellofemoral pain syndrome was denied as it is not factually ascertainable that his condition warranted a higher rating within one year prior to August 2, 2002.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot conditions, as well as increased ratings for dermatitis and lumbar strain, were denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating or establish a link between his claimed conditions and military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen a claim for service connection for a back disability, as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is related to his military service, including any in-service injuries and medical procedures.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical degenerative disk disease, cervical spondylosis, lumbar spondylosis, congenital stenosis, right degenerative joint disease, and total knee replacement were not incurred or aggravated during active service from February 6, 1973, to May 5, 1977.

The veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied, while his claims for increased ratings for folliculitis of the face and post-operative residuals, tumor, buccal vestibule area of mental nerve in region of tooth #27 were granted.

The veteran's claim for a rating higher than 20 percent for limitation of motion of the lumbar spine was denied as the evidence did not support an increase in severity.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and spondylitic changes is being remanded to the RO/AMC for additional development.

The veteran's lumbar spine disorder was rated at 10 percent from March 27, 1996 to October 3, 2005 and increased to 20 percent since October 4, 2005. The veteran was granted service connection for a neck disorder but not for erectile dysfunction.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a head disability (denied) and back and right leg disabilities (reopened) are remanded for further development.

The Board remands the case for a VA medical examination and to obtain additional evidence regarding the veteran's low back condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted, and the veteran is not entitled to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's back disability was evaluated, and the Board found that a rating in excess of 20 percent was not warranted.

The veteran's initial, noncompensable rating for lumbosacral strain with DDD was upheld as the evidence did not support a compensable rating.