Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spines, third degree burn scars of the left hand, forearm, and flank, as well as second degree burn scars. The effective dates for these decisions are not specified.

The Board found that the appellant's current low back disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, the highest available under VA rating criteria. His bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a low back disorder, finding that there is no evidence of chronic disabilities in service or linking current conditions to service.

The veteran's low back disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to March 9, 1999 and increased to 40 percent effective March 9, 1999.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for traumatic arthritis of L2-3 with degenerative disc disease and lumbar radiculitis since August 1998, effective from that date.

The veteran's claim for a low back disability was denied as there is no chronic low back disability present in service or for many years after service. The claim for a compensable evaluation for his right thigh neuropathy was also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized private medical expenses incurred during his hospitalization from May 24 to May 28, 1993 due to a low backache with right lower extremity pain. The appeal is based on service-connected tinnitus and not related to any other condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including spondylosis and scoliosis. The psychiatric disorder issue is pending as additional evidence was submitted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for flat feet, low back disorder, and cyst on spine.,For the neck disorder claim, the Board found the veteran's claim is not well grounded due to lack of credible supporting evidence for his claimed inservice stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for restoration of evaluations for his lumbosacral strain, right elbow epicondylitis, bilateral epithelial keratopathy with recurrent corneal erosions, and duodenal ulcer disease with gallbladder removal.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence of a current left knee disability attributable to the veteran's active service and denied the claim for service connection. The low back disability claim was deferred pending additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no competent medical evidence linking his current back disorder to service. The increased rating claims were also denied as there was no evidence showing that the veteran's wrist disabilities warranted a higher evaluation.

The VA determined that the veteran's current evaluation for lumbosacral strain, currently rated at 40 percent, is appropriate based on his most recent examination showing limited range of motion and pain.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his right bundle branch block is also rated as noncompensable. The veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent.,The Board finds that none of these conditions warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence.

The veteran died before his claim for service connection was decided, so there are no accrued benefits in this case.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee and low back disorders do not warrant increased ratings based on the current evidence of record. The most recent clinical findings did not support higher evaluations under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded and thus denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is service-connected, as there was evidence of arthritis in service and current degenerative changes.