Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability. The evidence did not support these claims based on current functional impairment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and spina bifida occulta (claimed as back pain sacralization of the fifth lumbar vertebra) due to a lack of well-grounded evidence.

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

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for low back disability and right testicle disorder are not well grounded, thus denying both claims.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 18, 1996 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected low back disability.

The Board has granted a rating of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected lumbar disc disease, effective from May 10, 1997. The claim for an extraschedular evaluation was also granted.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development of the veteran's claim, including obtaining service medical records and affording her a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disorder had its onset in service and is presumed to have been incurred due to his elevated cholesterol level. The claim for service connection for residuals of a low back injury was denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted since the July 1990 decision.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The veteran's multiple complaints of disability were not supported by medical evidence, and his disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining substantial gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a stomach disorder, and lumbosacral strain are not well-grounded. The medical evidence did not demonstrate current disabilities for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ due to service-connected disability, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking his sexual dysfunction to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the veteran was not precluded from doing sedentary work.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic lumbar syndrome and denied his claims for residuals of a left ankle injury, hearing loss, and visual impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a home adaptation grant, finding that his loss of use of one lower extremity and related disabilities did not preclude locomotion without aid of braces, crutches, canes, or wheelchair.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for a circulation disorder, hearing loss, left ear, a bladder disorder, a low back disorder, chronic sinusitis, and otitis media, left ear are not well grounded. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is granted as it was established during active duty.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disorder, as the newly submitted evidence was fundamentally cumulative of previous evidence. The veteran's current low back disability may be related to post-service injuries at work.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability and gastrointestinal disorder secondary to medications taken for a back disorder, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not establish a current disability as a result of an injury sustained during active duty for training in July 1991.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for primary and secondary service connection for his skin disorder, as well as a claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain. The decision also noted that the veteran's plantar calluses of both feet are caused by his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for right leg disability and low back disability, but has determined that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.