Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disorder, an upper left leg disorder, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), and a sleep disorder. The claim for a right femur fracture with post-traumatic arthritis claimed as hip bursitis was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for further development, including verification of his periods of active duty and consideration of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disability, including a lack of current diagnosis and a need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a lumbar laminectomy and an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar paravertebral myositis, finding that the residuals were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a spinal shot resulting in paralysis and back disability, concluding that his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not render him unemployable as he is capable of performing sedentary occupations.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 20 percent, effective November 1, 2006. The Board found that the disability does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and extent of his service-connected lumbosacral strain, including whether any nonservice-connected conditions are present that may affect his employment.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability was denied. The current evaluation of 40 percent is maintained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed knee, hip, and back disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain is rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during the appeal period.

The Veteran's myositis of the lumbar paravertebral muscles has been rated at 20 percent since March 26, 2001. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and low back disorders have been denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support an initial compensable evaluation for either condition from December 1, 2005 to February 22, 2010, or any subsequent rating above 10 percent for the right knee disorder, nor a rating greater than 20 percent for his low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and for additional examinations.

The Veteran's lower back and left leg disorders are not considered to be caused by the carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA medical providers during the pacemaker surgery in August 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, and hemorrhoids due to continuity of symptomatology since the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malignant melanoma was denied, but his claim for a higher disability rating for degenerative disc disease with spondylosis and stenosis was granted at a 20% rating.