Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking his current disability to service. The veteran's back condition is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected low back disorder, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the appellant's current right knee, back, or neck disorders to his service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a low back disorder is not well grounded, and thus denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 40 percent evaluation for his service-connected chronic low back strain with degenerative disc disease on and after January 21, 1998. The decision also acknowledges that he was previously granted a 40 percent rating effective from January 21, 1998.

The veteran's service-connected low back disorder results in severe limitation of motion and muscle spasm, warranting a 40% evaluation.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's service-connected PTSD to his death by homicide, thus denying the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, left hip, right knee, and left knee with fracture of the femur were all evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The noncompensable evaluation for the lumbosacral spine was increased to 20 percent effective April 2, 1998.

The veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain is granted effective from December 25, 1992.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral herniated nucleus pulposus and residuals of a left little finger injury, but denied the claims for higher initial ratings. The veteran's lumbosacral herniated nucleus pulposus is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, while his residuals of a left little finger injury are rated as noncompensable.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral Osgood-Schlatter disease and a low back injury, citing insufficient medical evidence to link these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance was denied because he is not in 'good health' aside from his service-connected disabilities, as determined by VA criteria.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his low back disability is denied as the current medical evidence does not show that his condition warrants a rating higher than 20 percent.

The veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 5295. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected epididymitis with cyst is rated at 10 percent, lumbosacral strain at noncompensable, and left knee disability at 20 percent. The appeal for increased ratings is granted in part.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability, as the evidence does not link a current back condition with service or any incident of service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability. The claim is also considered well grounded based on the provided evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a low back injury from 20 percent disabling is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a low back injury, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim is well-grounded as there is current disability of the low back.

The veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluations, and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any type of nervous disorder or evidence to support his claim for service connection.