Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a permanent and total rating for pension purposes was denied as his disabilities did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The veteran's major depression and cervical spine disability were granted increased ratings, with the latter effective September 3, 1996.

The Board has granted an initial 40 percent evaluation for the service-connected low back arthritis, effective from November 25, 1996. The disability is rated as a severe limitation of function of the lumbar spine.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident of service origin.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and multiple sclerosis due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claims of service connection for a low back disorder and headaches, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the final November 1994 RO decision.

The Board found that the veteran's current back condition is not related to her active service and denied her claim for service connection. The issue of a higher original evaluation for her left ankle sprain was also considered, but no rating assigned as it was an original evaluation.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional actions including a hearing, clarification of service connection issues, and investigation into the authenticity of submitted medical records.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of chronic disabilities of the low back, hips, or tinnitus during service and no medical evidence linking current diagnoses to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded and denied them.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left leg disability, involving scars from a dog bite sustained in service, was incurred as a result of his period of military service. The issues of right knee and back disabilities are not addressed due to the veteran withdrawing his appeal for these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for intermittent lumbosacral strain, shin splints, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including chronic schizoaffective-type schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). The claim for eligibility for VA medical care based on service connection for chronic schizoaffective-type schizophrenia was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's chronic low back pain and found that his prostatitis is at least as likely as not related to service. The claim for service connection for chronic prostatitis was also granted.

The Board determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral foot condition are not well grounded, but remanded them to consider whether secondary service connection could be established.

The veteran's claim for compensation due to a lumbar laminectomy was granted, resulting in a 20% evaluation from November 1, 1990, to January 28, 2000. Attorney fees are eligible based on the terms of an attorney fee agreement.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the veteran and requires further review of his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as his claims related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board dismissed the appeal as to the January 1981 decision denying service connection for a back disability due to lack of timely filing of a notice of disagreement. The October 1995 rating decision finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim is considered final.

The veteran's claim for service connection and non-service-connected disability pension was denied by the RO. The Board remanded the issue of non-service-connected disability pension to the RO, but did not address the service connection claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected chronic low back pain is granted, with a current evaluation of 20 percent.