Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The veteran's nonservice-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board denied an increased rating for recurrent low back pain, maintaining the initial 20 percent disability evaluation.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet criteria warranting a higher evaluation under applicable VA rating codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral arm disorder are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and rating assignments due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as insufficient evidence supporting each claim.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's bronchitis and rhinitis were incurred in service, and thus granted service connection for these conditions. The lumbar spine condition claim was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen it.

Prior to December 30, 1999, the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain was rated at 20 percent disabling due to limitation of motion in forward flexion.

The veteran's initial rating for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine was denied. However, his shell fragment wound, right buttock, which had previously been rated noncompensable, is now rated as compensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his lumbar spine disability and genital herpes, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to lack of competent medical evidence linking any current condition to service.

The veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are rated at 20 percent each, reflecting moderate limitation of motion.,Both the left and right knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) found that the veteran's back disability was not incurred or aggravated in active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded and have therefore been denied. The skull bone mass is not productive of any current symptoms or impairment, and it has not resulted in any skull loss.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for higher ratings were not well-grounded, and thus denied them.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is well-grounded, and thus VA must assist in developing evidence pertinent to this claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than December 14, 1994, for the grant of service connection for PTSD and chronic low back strain. The veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim prior to this date.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee and low back disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbar spine and left wrist conditions were denied by the RO. The lumbar spine condition received a higher evaluation, but the left wrist condition remains at its current 10 percent rating.