Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a rash, and a back disorder. The claim for hypertension was not addressed as it is unclear if it was part of the appeal.

The veteran's claims for service connection, an increased evaluation for his right knee disability, and a separate evaluation for his right knee scar were all denied. The denial is based on the lack of evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and thus denied both his claim for service connection for the cause of death and his DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is well-grounded, and his low back strain with limitation of motion is currently rated at 40 percent. The VA has granted the increased rating for low back strain.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder. The decision will be based on the submission of new evidence that could change the outcome.

The Board denied initial compensable ratings for service-connected lumbar strain and cervical spine with herniated nucleus pulposus, finding that the conditions did not warrant higher than noncompensable ratings based on symptoms during the period of time contemporaneous to the claims.

The Board finds that the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is well-grounded, and thus grants the claim.

The VA has determined that the veteran's sacralization of the 5th lumbar vertebra with back pain does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation, but granted a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence following his December 9-20, 1991 hospitalization.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for secondary service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, right hip and low back disabilities are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of causation or aggravation by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected low back disability warranted a 20 percent evaluation from May 14, 1997 to July 6, 1998. For the period prior to May 14, 1997 and since May 20, 1999, the veteran's service-connected low back disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found the veteran's claim of service connection for back disability not well grounded and denied it.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection for a low back disability, finding that January 22, 1990 was the proper effective date based on receipt of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities have been granted, with the exception of the evaluation for coronary artery disease. The left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are each rated at 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively, effective from June 26, 1995. The veteran's lateral epicondylitis of the right elbow is rated at 10 percent, sinusitis at 10 percent, left knee disorder at direct service connection, low back disorder at direct service connection, and gastritis at direct service connection.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of a headache disorder. The claims for back disorder and temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome were denied as well.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to a documented upper back injury in service or otherwise linking it to service. Therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, emphysema, and unstable angina. The denial is based on the lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to an in-service injury or exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no competent evidence linking any injury or event during service to his current condition.