Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are rated at 30 percent and 40 percent, respectively, effective October 1, 1993.,The residuals of the left orchiectomy are currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he stated that he was satisfied with the current ruling regarding his disability ratings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back condition, arthritis, and internal derangement of the left knee. The claim for a compensable evaluation for urticaria is pending.

The Board found no well-grounded claims for service connection of the claimed conditions and denied them.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 10 percent, and service connection for hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux, cervical muscle strain, muscle tension headaches, and lumbar muscle strain are granted as secondary to his PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury and bilateral knee disability, finding new and material evidence. However, it denied service connection for these conditions as they are not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking them to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, characterized by daily pain and intermittent attacks of severe pain, warrants a 20 percent initial rating under Diagnostic Code 5293 for intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and a low back disorder due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to her period of active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for residuals of stress fractures of both heels due to withdrawal. The veteran's thoracolumbar strain and right shoulder disability have been denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain and denied any increase in rating for his left knee disorder.

The case is being remanded for a travel board hearing and further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a hearing before a member of the Board at the RO. The veteran's representative requests that the appeal be remanded again to complete this action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and fracture of the right foot, both claimed as residuals of contused coccyx during active military service. The Board found that there was no legal merit or entitlement under law to these claims.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for a left elbow disorder, low back disorder, and epigastric disorder due to lack of evidence linking post-service findings to in-service findings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbar spine disorder, finding that the disability picture more nearly approximates a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder bursitis and lumbar strain are not well grounded, as there is no evidence of an exceptional or unusual disability picture with marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization. The RO's decisions to deny service connection for right and left knee disabilities were not appealed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of his spine and a temporary total convalescent rating based on laminectomy surgery performed in June 1995. The claim for an increased disability rating for lumbosacral strain was also denied as the highest possible schedular evaluation has been assigned.

The Board found no competent medical evidence associating the veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome with his military service or to his service-connected lumbosacral strain, thus denying service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome.