Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and low back disorder. The RO found that there is no evidence to support these claims on a direct basis.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ear disability secondary to radiation exposure during active service is not well grounded due to lack of evidence of such exposure and no current disability. The claims for back, neck, and leg disabilities are also denied as there is insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, increased evaluations for right and left knee disabilities, and an evaluation for post-operative residuals of a fracture of the proximal right humerus with bicep weakness and atrophy. The claims were not well-grounded.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that the veteran's current symptoms warranted this level of disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a private hospitalization and outpatient treatment, finding that no emergency existed at the time of the treatment.

The veteran's claim for a psychiatric disability, including depression, has been found plausible. His low back disability is determined to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The veteran's left knee disability meets the criteria for a 60% evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and a right knee disorder, as well as his claim for an increased rating for his left knee disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service treatment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for back disability and psychiatric disability. The appellant now has a current diagnosis of these conditions, which were related by medical professionals to injuries sustained during his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is not well-grounded.,There is no evidence linking the veteran's current chronic fatigue syndrome to his military service or reported continuity of post-service symptomatology.,The veteran's allegation of hearing loss is not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,Although the veteran has reported asbestos exposure in service, there is no medical evidence of asbestosis or any asbestos-related disorder.,Respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,The veteran's claim for flu-like symptoms involving the sinuses is not well-grounded.,Muscle aches in thighs and lower legs are not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for muscle aches resulting from an undiagnosed illness.,Eye symptoms are not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for eye symptoms resulting from an undiagnosed illness.,Stomach symptoms are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Generalized joint pain and shaking are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Fatigue as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness is plausible, but the veteran has submitted some evidence supporting this claim.,The veteran's allegation of hearing loss related to an undiagnosed illness is not well-grounded.,Joint pain in ankles and hips are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Joint pain in thumbs, fingers of both hands, wrists, elbows are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a lumbosacral spine disorder and an increased rating for PTSD. The veteran's current PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, but his claim was not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking his current disability to his military service.

The VA determined that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, resulting in denial.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disability is related to an inservice injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder. The claim is well-grounded.

The Board found that the appellant did not establish veteran status for his claims of service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as there was no competent medical evidence showing treatment or diagnosis of these conditions during his qualifying period of active duty for training (ADT).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and for an increased rating for stress headaches. The veteran's claim for service connection was not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking her current symptoms to her active service. Her headaches were rated at 30 percent effective May 18, 1995.

The VA determined that the appellant's service-connected degenerative disc disease, L4-L5, L5-S1 does not render him unemployable due to his age and non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for a middle and lower back disorder is granted, with no specific rating assigned or effective date provided. The decision also indicates that additional evidence was considered but did not change the outcome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to any injury or disease sustained during service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.