Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected chronic lumbar syndrome, which has been rated at 40 percent. The Board has ordered a remand to consider additional evidence and possibly assign an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic low back disability, finding no medical relationship between his current disabilities and incidents during active military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected post-operative residuals of DDD of the lumbar spine with lumbar strain was denied by the RO, and subsequently denied by the Board. The case is now remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claims for service connection for left hand arthritis, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and a back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical disc disease and an increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease at L2-L3 with central canal stenosis, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship to service or service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, finding that his current back, hip, and knee disabilities are not related to his military service or service-connected left ankle disability.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine are denied as his disabilities do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that the medical evidence did not establish a link between his current condition and active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for left knee injury with degenerative joint disease. The veteran's claims folder must be made available to the examiner.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disorders are not well-grounded.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right hip, and right leg disabilities due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to his military service, including two isolated complaints of back pain during service. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of claims for service connection for right ankle disorder, low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, right wrist disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the veteran's head injury with residual headaches and denied a compensable rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to February 2000. The claim for service connection for bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees remains on appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne, low back disability, fungus of the left big toenail, folliculitis of both inner thighs, and hypertension. The veteran is not entitled to any compensation for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an eye disability, a back disability, and burns or burn scars of the legs as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gout was incurred in service and his arthritis of the lumbar spine warrants a reduced rating from 40% to 20%, effective December 1998.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability, which includes laminectomy syndrome and degenerative disc disease, does not warrant a rating higher than the current 60 percent. The evidence shows significant functional impairment but no ankylosis or other conditions that would justify a higher rating.