Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The veteran's claims for service connection for back and bilateral knee disabilities are not well-grounded, as there is no evidence of current disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's postoperative low back disability is not service-connected, as there is no evidence to support a link between his in-service injury and the current condition.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the issuance of a final decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, incisional ventral hernia, and gastrointestinal disability. The veteran was not granted any higher ratings under the applicable criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disability and back disability are not well-grounded, as there is no evidence of a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of shrapnel wounds to the thoraco-lumbar spine and right thoracic area are currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for these conditions. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted as there is no evidence of more than moderate impairment in either muscle group.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the initial 50 percent evaluation assigned for PTSD was proper.

The Board denied service connection for depression and right upper extremity disorder (carpal tunnel syndrome) in March 1990. The veteran's claim for service connection for a right upper extremity disorder characterized as carpal tunnel syndrome is reopened, but the claim remains denied due to lack of evidence linking current disability to service.

The VA Regional Office (RO) denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the left femur, finding that the current disability picture warranted only a 20 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disorder, low back disorder, and eye disorder. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims for low back and eye disorders.

The Board found no evidence of a back disorder in service and concluded that the veteran's current low back pain/strain is not related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were not well grounded, as there was no competent evidence associating any current disabilities with his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a low back disability, as well as his attempts to reopen claims for otitis externa, hepatitis, and bilateral pes planus. The evidence submitted did not meet the criteria for establishing service connection.

The veteran's claim for increased rating of low back strain is denied, and his claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not well-grounded due to lack of corroborated stressors. The current disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5292.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The VA has determined that the current evaluations are appropriate.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation or service connection based on secondary effects.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disorder. The RO denied entitlement to service connection in May 1977, but the veteran submitted additional medical evidence suggesting his condition may be related to service. However, the RO determined this evidence was insufficient to reopen the claim.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective from the date of the June 1992 decision.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 5, 1993, for the grant of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and compression fractures at T-11 and T-12 was denied by the Board.