Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service and has denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was denied as there is no evidence of penile deformity. The Veteran is currently in receipt of special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder and granted it. The claim of service connection for PTSD was also granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and chronic neck strain conditions have not met the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's incapacitating episodes of his degenerative joint disease, thoracic and lumbosacral spine. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum that addresses the current severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to June 23, 2009 was denied. For the period beginning June 23, 2009, a rating in excess of 40 percent is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability was denied, and the TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a schedular rating in excess of 40 percent for the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disorders due to lack of evidence showing a causal link between these conditions and his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back or right knee condition and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board concluded that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor is it proximately due to or the result of a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's current back disorder is not related to service, and the Board finds that arthritis of the lumbar spine may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable and excess of 10 percent ratings for his service-connected right patellar tendonitis with degenerative joint disease, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including refractive eye surgery, low back strain, cervical spine disorder, sleep disorder, left hand disorder, and urticaria.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids was granted, and a 10 percent rating was assigned for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board found that the appellant's current left foot and ankle disability, as well as his lower back disorder, are related to an in-service fall from a guard tower. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a herniated nucleus pulposus L4/L5 with sciatica, incurred during the Veteran's second period of active duty. Service connection was also granted for hypertension, as it is at least as likely as not that the condition increased in severity beyond its natural progression during service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation and service connection for neurologic manifestations secondary to his low back disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating or service connection based on direct service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic low back strain and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted and that the condition is causally related to service.