Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the full nature and extent of his service-connected lumbosacral sprain with lumbar laminectomy. The RO must also address the issues of service connection for a right hip condition and individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right foot or ankle disability, and therefore service connection for residuals of a right foot/ankle injury is denied. The veteran's low back disability remains evaluated at 20 percent.

The veteran's back disability, manifested by radiating pain, numbness, weakness, and decreased range of motion, is rated at a 40 percent evaluation due to severe intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right hip, and left leg disabilities due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The RO increased the rating for lumbosacral strain with myofascial syndrome to 20 percent effective February 10, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current low back disorder or residuals of an eye injury due to service. The right knee disability is currently rated at 10%.,The veteran's right knee disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease with related pain but no functional limitation or instability, warrants a rating of 10%

The VA determined that the veteran's lumbar strain with radiculopathy warrants a rating of at least 40 percent, but not more. The evidence did not show persistent symptoms compatible with sciatic neuropathy.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not that his pre-existing low back disability increased in severity during service and was due to the natural progression of the underlying condition.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability effective February 7, 1997. The low back disorder was rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of new and material evidence, as well as his cervical strain with degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied service connection for chronic low back disorder and an increased evaluation for bilateral varicose veins. The veteran's claim of a chronic low back disorder was granted, but the Board found no evidence to support service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an initial evaluation greater than noncompensable for his chronic lumbar strain. The issues were not fully developed due to the veteran's failure to cooperate with VA examinations.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his lipoma of the left lateral lumbar area does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and low back disability are denied as the evidence does not establish a current disability or a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder and a right hip disorder, finding that the evidence is plausible.,Service connection was also denied for a nervous disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis and a low back disability as they are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) of the lumbosacral spine, including recent medical records and a VA examination.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the current low back disability to a back injury or disease incurred in service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for impairment of the right knee, left knee, and a back condition as not well grounded. The evidence does not support current diagnoses or a link between the claimed conditions and active duty.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, low back disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.