Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder and for nonservice-connected pension benefits based on permanent and total disability due to a nonservice-connected mental disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD, as well as his claim for TDIU were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or an increase in disability ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, but granted an earlier effective date for his 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including postoperative residuals of a fracture of the right knee and arthritis of the hips, render him unable to obtain and maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. His right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted a rating of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a laminectomy at L4 and L5, finding that these symptoms meet the criteria for pronounced intervertebral disc disease.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition due to lack of competent medical evidence linking his current problems with his service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected back disorder is manifested by complaints of low back pain, but not more than moderate lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome. The claim for an increased rating was granted to a 20 percent disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine are service-connected, and he also has current disabilities in his hips, knees, and ankles. However, there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for chronic knee or ankle disorders.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the veteran's low back syndrome with arthritis, effective from January 2, 1996.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral varicose veins, status post ligation and stripping warrant a compensable rating of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and for increased disability ratings for his migraine headaches and joint space narrowing at L5-S1. The veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service, and the initial disability ratings assigned were found to be appropriate.

The VA determined that the appellant's postoperative herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to appear for a scheduled hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be returned to the RO for scheduling another hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service medical records and for clarification on the type of hearing desired by the veteran.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine disorder, right middle finger fracture residuals, and right ankle fracture residuals were denied by the Board. The RO continued to deny these benefits.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, which includes arthritis and discogenic changes.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was not incurred during service, but did not reopen his claim for residuals of a laceration to the left hand due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain with spondylolysis does not warrant an evaluation in excess of the current 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied as he did not meet the criteria for unemployability due to his disabilities prior to January 1, 1996.