Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for residuals of a head injury, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease are not well grounded. The evidence does suggest that these conditions may be related to service, but further development is required.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of low back strain with arthritis, service connection for diabetes mellitus, neuropathy, and fibromyalgia. The claim for PTSD was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the earliest available opportunity.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, left knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are not well grounded.,However, the claim of service connection for residuals of a head injury with memory loss is well grounded.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the veteran had a preexisting condition and no increase in severity during his military service. The claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, arthritis, and depression as secondary to his service-connected bilateral postoperative hammertoes are not well grounded. The Board also found that the veteran's claim for service connection for depression is well grounded but denied it due to lack of causation.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for low back strain. However, the claim is not well grounded as there is no competent medical evidence of a nexus between the current low back disorder and his period of active duty service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a back condition, headaches, and a psychiatric disability including PTSD. The claims are well-grounded.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities. The RO had previously granted service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's compression fracture of L1 with degenerative changes and low back strain is now rated at 20 percent, effective June 13, 1998. His bilateral inguinal hernia remains noncompensable.

The veteran's appeal is about his claim for a higher rating for his service-connected intervertebral disc pathology of the lumbosacral spine. The case has been remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of head and thumb injuries, finding them to be the result of the veteran's own misconduct. Service connection was granted for osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with a rating in excess of 20 percent not being warranted.

The veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities. The veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and there is no entitlement to dependents' education benefits.

The case is being remanded for additional development of the medical evidence to address deficiencies in prior examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, finding that they are proximately due to his service-connected contusion in the lumbosacral region. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of a contusion in the lumbosacral region is remanded.

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for her service-connected degenerative disc disease of the low back. The case has been remanded to obtain a VA examination that addresses functional loss due to pain and other factors.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, headaches, and ulcer and hiatal hernia as secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot stress fracture residuals and a chronic back disability due to lack of new and material evidence, and because there was no showing of a current disability related to active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the distal third of the left tibia, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining service medical records and arranging for a VA orthopedic examination to determine the current nature and extent of his lumbar spine fracture residuals.