Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD and a 60 percent rating for shell fragment wound residuals to the left lumbar spine, effective from when service connection was established.

The Board has determined that the veteran's spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, L5-S1, warrants a 20 percent evaluation. The evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond this level.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, which was previously rated at 10 percent. The RO has now increased it to 20 percent effective March 1999.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to a compensable evaluation for his service-connected sinusitis, right shoulder separation, or lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back injury, finding that the veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by an in-service fall on ice.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected low back disorder, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal was denied as he failed to set forth clearly and specifically why the results in the March 17, 1983, Board decision would have been manifestly different but for alleged errors of fact and law.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain and Graves Disease. The veteran's lumbosacral strain results in no more than characteristic pain, while her Graves Disease is currently evaluated at a 10% rating.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, narcolepsy, and a psychiatric disorder. However, it did not find that this evidence is sufficient to grant service connection.

The Board dismissed the claim as it had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the issue of eligibility for payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, which meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes. However, his refractive error does not meet any compensable rating under VA guidelines. Therefore, he cannot be granted a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board denied service connection for post-operative residuals of a herniated lumbar disc with degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability prior to April 8, 1997. However, his claim was granted effective from that date due to the assignment of a 60% evaluation for COPD.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his low back disorder was denied, while the initial 50 percent evaluation for his adjustment disorder was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the evidence submitted was not new and material.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for below knee amputation, right leg and denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip and degenerative disc disease of the neck and low back.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for her low back disorder, service connection for a left foot disorder as secondary to the back disorder, and service connection for a bladder disorder as secondary to the back disorder.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, as well as for low back disability. The current evaluations are 10 percent for each knee condition and 10 percent for the low back disability.

The RO granted increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, with the highest evaluation of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine effective February 17, 2000.

The Board has addressed the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but due to finality of previous decisions and lack of new and material evidence, all claims remain denied.