Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of an increase in severity during service or any other link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his period of service, and thus grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is linked to hyperlipidimia he was treated for during service.,Service treatment records show GERD was diagnosed in 1990, and the Veteran continues to receive treatment for it. The VA examiner concluded that his current condition began during service.,The Veteran reported a groin injury in service which developed into a chronic groin pull. A VA examiner found this condition likely related to service due to its onset after separation.,Service records show recurrent back pain, and the May 2010 VA examination diagnosed quadratus laborum strain as beginning during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding in-service and post-service treatment records, as well as his incarcerated status preventing examination. The RO is instructed to attempt to obtain additional evidence and schedule examinations.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder, low back, and right leg disabilities. The claims were previously denied on the merits due to lack of evidence linking current conditions to military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim is pending, as the appeal was withdrawn. The right foot injury with right ankle capsulitis and scars have been granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective February 4, 2009. The low back strain remains at a 10 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is pending.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar sacral spine was granted service connection with an initial rating of 10 percent effective March 31, 1993.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right elbow, left elbow tendinitis, right shoulder bursitis, left shoulder disability, bilateral knee chondromalacia, bilateral wrist disability, right ankle disability, left ankle tendinitis, and low back disability have all been granted.

The VA determined that the appellant's recurrent low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, based on his current range of motion and symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of her right leg disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 20 percent assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen any of these claims. The Veteran was also denied a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of flexion to 15 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the cervical or thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with left leg pain, and service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, sinus disorder, and lung disorder (claimed as tuberculosis and chronic chest pain) were denied. The Veteran was not granted an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with left leg pain prior to October 29, 2009, or a rating in excess of 40 percent since that date.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbar strain and laminectomy of L5-S1 has been granted an initial rating of 20 percent, effective from October 28, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, a bilateral knee condition, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low back pain, and migraine headaches, have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrences that would support the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and degenerative disc disease have been denied as there is no credible evidence showing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's character of discharge was not a bar to benefits, and thus granted service connection for his claimed conditions.