Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disorder and cervical spine disorder. The claim for secondary service connection for a low back disorder is not well grounded, as there is no competent medical evidence linking it to his service-connected shell fragment wound injury residuals. The August 1956 rating decision granting service connection for the right thigh shell fragment wound was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The veteran's new and material evidence claim for cervical spine disorder has been granted, but he must still prove a causal link between his current condition and service to establish well-groundedness.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current discogenic disease of the lumbar spine to his service, and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of a low back disability. The right ankle disability rating remains pending as there is no clear indication of whether it should be granted, denied, or remanded.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the service-connected lower back disability, which is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee impairment and low back pain are not well grounded. The claim for skin condition due to Agent Orange exposure is also denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, tinnitus, and hemorrhoids were denied by the RO. The RO did not assign a rating higher than 10 percent for his low back condition or his tinnitus, but continued to deny his requests for higher ratings for his bilateral patello-femoral syndrome and hemorrhoids.

The Board found that the veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, as they are rated at zero percent combined.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical dysplasia and increased the rating for low back disability from January 5, 1988 to August 1992 and from April 9, 1998 onwards. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability is service-connected and has granted his claim. For his bronchial asthma, the RO should consider both pre-October 1996 and post-October 1996 criteria for evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected back injury to the thoracolumbar spine with chronic strain, compression fracture of T12 and degeneration of T12-L1 and L5-S1 warrants a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's current back disorder to service, and denied his claim.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected lumbosacral strain was denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded and denied them.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic low back strain warrants a 40 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the decision.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated based on the criteria provided in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The claims for increased ratings are denied as the current evidence does not meet the schedular criteria for a compensable rating.,A VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae, lumbosacral strain, and knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right hip, chronic prostate problems, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and sleep apnea. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for right knee patellofemoral syndrome is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical spine disorder and degenerative joint disease, low back, do not have a direct link to service. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for his low back condition is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current lumbar spine disability to his service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disorder warrants a 60 percent rating due to pronounced lumbar disc disease.