Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right thigh and buttock warrant an increased evaluation of 30 percent, with separate evaluations for tender scars.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the spine, as well as an increased evaluation for thrombophlebitis of the left lower extremity, are not supported by evidence showing a plausible or substantiable claim. The veteran's conditions have been found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left femoral cutaneous neuropathy and service connection for a left knee disability and low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of these claims.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and low back disorders in January 1984. The veteran's claims were subsequently addressed, but no final decision was issued regarding the issues of entitlement to a total evaluation based on individual unemployability, service connection for a left shoulder disability, or compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left shoulder injury. As such, attorney fees from past-due benefits awarded in April 2000 are denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not warrant an increased disability evaluation for lumbosacral strain, status post laminectomy or tinea pedis. The combined effect of these conditions does not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability was aggravated by service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded and requires further development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder is not well grounded because there is no medical diagnosis of a current disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to new evidence suggesting a possible medical nexus between back problems in service and current low back disability. The claim is now well-grounded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, hernia condition, and colon disability. The claim of service connection for coronary artery disease is well grounded.

The veteran's application for RH insurance was not received within one year of the last grant of service connection, thus denying his eligibility.

The Board found that a low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of chronic low back symptomatology after service and arthritis was not shown to be present within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the claim of service connection for a back disorder is well grounded. The veteran's current back problems could be attributed to his parachute jumps and spinal anesthesia in service, but there are conflicting opinions on this matter.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the service-connected postoperative residuals of a right knee injury and has granted an effective date of February 13, 1997. The Board also found that the veteran is entitled to an effective date of February 13, 1997 for a 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because he did not respond to requests for information and evidence necessary to make a decision on his service connection claim.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, internal derangement of the left knee, and traumatic arthritis of the left knee are being remanded due to incomplete medical evaluations.

The VA has determined that the veteran's low back disability, which includes mechanical pain and a history of surgery at L4-5, does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding no competent medical evidence linking it to his service-connected right knee disability.