Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and lung disorder are not well grounded. The medical evidence does not establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and hypertension are well grounded. The claims for increased evaluations of fracture residuals of the right third digit of the hand, left little finger, and multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities have been deferred pending resolution of this appeal.

The veteran's service-connected genital herpes is rated at a 10 percent rating. The claim of service connection for chronic low back disability and skin disorder of the scalp (including dandruff) are well grounded.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the May 1987 rating decision, which denied service connection for a back disability. As a result, the claim is granted effective from March 28, 1987.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the service-connected lumbar spondylolisthesis, effective from December 30, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for postoperative residuals, herniated nucleus pulposus with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the original claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for low back strain is not well grounded. The additional documentation submitted with regard to her right knee lateral instability with osteoarthritis constitutes new and material evidence, allowing her claim to be reopened.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder to an injury sustained during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disorder and headaches, thus denying these claims.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that there is not enough evidence to support the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, as no competent medical evidence connects his current condition to an incident of service.

The veteran's arthritis of the low back is proximately due to his service-connected right ankle disability, and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from March 19, 1999. The RO found that the symptoms of PTSD have significantly worsened since the initial evaluation in December 1998.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for COPD, mechanical low back pain, and a skin disorder for accrued benefits purposes due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to her service, thus denying all claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of evidence, including obtaining Army Reserve medical records and VA treatment records.

The Board found that the appellant's back disability was not incurred or aggravated during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's PTSD and DDD of the low back were both granted increased evaluations, but his claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected PTSD, left thigh disability, and lumbar region disability have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.