Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening the previously denied claims of service connection for low back disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, residuals of a left shoulder injury and PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle sprain and low back and neck disorders due to lack of evidence establishing a causal nexus between the current conditions and active service.,The veteran's claims regarding reopening her sinus disorder and joint popping and snapping claims were also denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a low back disability are denied as there is no competent evidence linking these disabilities to his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder condition, neck condition, low back injury, and leg problems all secondary to his service-connected partial amputation of the distal right middle finger.

The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and TDIU benefits. The veteran's lumbar spine disability was found to be directly connected to his military service, with a rating of 40 percent assigned.

The veteran's claim for higher evaluations for his service-connected lumbar disability was denied. The RO assigned a 50 percent evaluation from December 16, 1991, to August 26, 1997.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to his military service, including a fall in 1964. The claim was denied as there is insufficient evidence for secondary service connection.

The veteran's low back disability, manifested by severe recurring attacks of intervertebral disc syndrome, is rated at 40 percent under the criteria for degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome. The RO has determined that this level of impairment warrants a higher evaluation than the current 20 percent rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased rating and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected lumbar syndrome, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The VA determined that the veteran's lumbar disc disability, which is currently rated at 40 percent disabling, does not warrant an increase in evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability, secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The chronic lumbosacral strain manifested by chronic mechanical low back pain is found to be a result of his service-connected right lower extremity pathology, including leg shortening.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that his conditions were not well-grounded or met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypercholesterolemia and a compensable evaluation for periodontitis are not well grounded. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain is remanded for additional development.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, finding that the veteran's conditions did not warrant higher evaluations under VA regulations.

The Board denied the appellant's requests to reopen his claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for PTSD, chronic fatigue, joint pain in shoulders, hips, and elbows, headaches, back disability, and right knee disability are well-grounded. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected dorsolumbar strain is being remanded due to the need for verification of his Reserve service and additional VA treatment records. A physical examination is also required to distinguish between symptoms related to his service-connected condition and those from nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disorders, as well as his claim for a disability rating greater than 10 percent prior to June 1, 1999 for hypertension. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the hypertension issue.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral spine disorder was denied by the RO in May 1998, as he had already been granted service connection and a noncompensable disability rating.