Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

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

The Board has awarded service connection for postoperative residuals of L5-S1 diskectomy, finding that the veteran's current back disability is related to his in-service injury.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disorder, right knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, upper back disorder, headaches, or left knee disorder. The Board found no in-service incurrence of these conditions and thus denied service connection for all issues.

The Board has denied service connection for neck and shoulder disorders, headaches, tinnitus, and a low back disorder. The claim for increased rating of chondromalacia of the right knee was also denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability became so severe that he was unable to work as of December 2, 1994. The effective date for the total rating based on individual unemployability is set at December 2, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and headaches and tinnitus secondary to head trauma.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability, finding that it is related to his active duty service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional service medical records and VA treatment records.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for low back pain and osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine was denied by the RO. The case is being remanded to schedule a hearing in accordance with the appellant's request.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in denying service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. These conditions are now granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective from May 18, 1993.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the veteran's lumbar spine fusion at L4-5 and L5-S1, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for entitlement to TDIU was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and denied restoration to a 40 percent rating for residuals of a fracture of the cervical spine with arthritis and degenerative disc disease. The veteran's other claims were not addressed due to procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability is not proximately due to or the result of her service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board found that the veteran's disorders of the knees, hips and lumbar spine are not shown to be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds (SFWs) of the feet. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes as secondary to his service-connected right knee injury, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on a lack of evidence showing that the service-connected right knee injury caused or aggravated the veteran's back condition.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain is related to his service and granted service connection for this condition.