Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder incurred or aggravated by service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The right knee disorder was also not granted an increased rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial. The RO is instructed to obtain additional medical records, verify the veteran's service history, and provide an examination to determine if his current back condition is related to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and to have a VA orthopedist examine the veteran. The claim will be reviewed on the merits if new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current migraine headaches and recurrent dizziness are not related to her period of service, and her low back disorder is not related to her military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board denied a higher rating for the service-connected residuals of a lumbar spine injury, finding that the disability is primarily manifested by complaints of low back pain and slight restricted overall motion. The evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for specially-adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to the need to address his secondary service connection claim for disability of the right leg. The issue of service connection for the right leg is also inextricably intertwined and must be addressed before any decision can be made.

PTSD symptoms resulted in definite industrial and social impairment from March 1995 to October 28, 1996, warranting a 30% rating.,PTSD symptoms began causing severe social and industrial impairment starting October 29, 1996, warranting a 70% rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination and the need for additional medical records.

The veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for her service-connected low back strain with degenerative joint disease. The RO has ordered an additional VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of her disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 warrants a 40 percent disability rating, effective from February 2000.

The Board has remanded the case due to need for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a social and industrial survey. The veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated along with his nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, effective from the date of the September 1983 rating decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for low back disability, and thus granted the reopening. The Board also determined that the veteran's current low back disability was incurred during his active military service.

The veteran's PTSD and residuals of a left ankle fracture are rated at the maximum available. The chronic neck strain is granted with a 10 percent rating, but no increase in evaluation is granted. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is not addressed.

The Board denied service connection for a stomach disorder to include peptic ulcer disease, flat feet, and a back disability to include degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The evidence submitted since the October 1997 decision was not considered new and material.

The veteran's service-connected low back disorder, cervical spine HNP, and residuals of deviated nasal septum are all granted with the appropriate disability ratings. The right knee disorder remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability and right os calcaneus fracture with residuals (right thoracotomy scar) are not service-connected, as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.