Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected low back disorder, finding that it was aggravated by his left knee disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disorder, but it is not well-grounded. The claim for secondary service connection to left knee disability remains denied. The rating for postoperative residuals of surgery for chondromalacia of the left knee continues to be 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is not well-grounded and denied. The claim for an increased rating for left great toe disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, skin cancer secondary to Agent Orange exposure in service, and cancer of the larynx and tongue secondary to Agent Orange exposure in service. The claim for increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was granted.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and a back disorder are not well-grounded. The evidence did not establish a link between any current conditions and military service.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with mild L5 disc disease, rated at 10 percent effective May 1, 1991.

The VA determined that the veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the denial of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, chondromalacia of the left knee, and defective hearing. The claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is denied as not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of low back injury and hearing loss, finding that he did not have veteran status during the relevant periods in the U.S. Army Reserve.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for postoperative residuals of a low back injury. However, the reopened claim is not well grounded as there is no clear evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a lumbar back disorder and aneurysm, which he claims were caused by injuries sustained in 1957. The case must be remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination.

The Board has granted a 60% evaluation for the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine arthritis/degenerative joint/disc disease, effective from September 1995.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for chemical sensitivity, allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, temporomandibular joint syndrome, and mechanical low back pain during active duty training from April 29 to September 7, 1970 are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and denied his claims for service connection. The dental trauma claim was also denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to his military service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and for residuals of removal of a fistula are not well grounded, thus denying both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected low back strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for malaria, a back disability, and pulmonary tuberculosis. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for malaria.

The veteran's low back disability is currently manifested by subjective complaints of pain and some limitation of range of motion, but no severe lumbosacral strain, severe limitation of low back motion, or severe intervertebral disc syndrome has been demonstrated. The RO assigned a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's low back pain with limitation of motion.,The effective date for the assignment of a 30 percent evaluation for the residuals of a left Achilles tendon injury was granted to June 18, 1994, based on the date the veteran filed the reopened claim. The RO did not grant an earlier effective date as there is no medical evidence of an increase in the veteran's left Achilles tendon disability prior to that date.,The veteran underwent a surgical procedure for left Achilles tendinitis on September 20, 1995, and required one additional month of convalescence, to December 1, 1995. The RO granted an extension of the temporary total disability rating based on this surgery.

The Board has determined that the veteran's disability warrants a 30 percent evaluation, effective from September 8, 1993.