Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities, finding that there is no current evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for secondary service connection for a psychiatric disorder was also denied as it is not legally sufficient.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for her mechanical low back pain was granted, with a 20 percent disability evaluation assigned effective December 1993.

The VA has determined that the veteran's low back disability warrants a rating of 40 percent, reflecting moderate to severe limitation of motion and other symptoms.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, but it remains unclear whether the veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The VA has granted a 40% evaluation for the veteran's low back disorder, which is the highest available under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings, finding that his chest pain and low back pain were not shown to be related to service. The anxiety disorder was found to have mild impairment prior to August 21, 1998, but from then on resulted in reduced reliability and productivity. The gunshot wound to the abdomen had no more than moderate muscle injury with post-operative scarring, while the gunshot wound to the back did not show any functional or objective disability.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, meaning there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and finds it well grounded. The claim for service connection for an eye disorder (amblyopia) is denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 40% rating for the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, effective prior to May 21, 1999.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain is productive of severe functional impairment, but the back disability does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as it does not involve pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome or ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is not well grounded, and thus denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, histoplasmosis and its residuals, hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and lumbar back strain with degenerative disc disease. The RO granted a 40 percent evaluation for the lumbar condition effective April 12, 1995.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder to his military service, including a 1968 surgery. The claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability is well-grounded and grants this claim. The issue of service connection for left leg disability is inextricably intertwined with the back disability claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical strain, left knee chondromalacia, and lumbosacral strain are all related to his active service. The original rating of 20 percent for the low back disability is granted.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the appellant's current conditions to his military service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was not well-grounded and denied it.

The VA has determined that the veteran's disabilities do not warrant a higher disability evaluation based on current symptomatology.,The VA has determined that the veteran's right foot disability does not warrant a higher disability evaluation based on current symptomatology.,The VA has determined that the veteran's left leg muscle group XI disability does not warrant a higher disability evaluation based on current symptomatology.,The VA has determined that the veteran's thigh, hip, and buttock disability does not warrant a higher disability evaluation based on current symptomatology.

The Board denied increased evaluations for COPD and lumbosacral strain as residuals of service-connected shell fragment wounds, finding that the evidence did not warrant an increase in disability ratings.