Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for left hip disorder and low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability are not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for avascular necrosis of the right hip, finding that his claim for service connection was not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back syndrome, finding that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his Reiter's Syndrome of the right ankle, wrist, low back, left knee, and right knee. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims are well-grounded, but denied on merits. The veteran's request for an increased rating for his right ankle condition is denied as there is no evidence of marked limitation of motion warranting a higher evaluation. However, the claim to reopen service connection for a low back disorder with degenerative changes has been granted due to new and material evidence provided by Dr. Pampati.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back conditions are not well grounded. The claim for an increased evaluation of residuals of a fractured left second toe was denied as there is no evidence of moderate disability warranting a 10% rating.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the service-connected right knee disorder, effective from April 1997. The veteran's bilateral foot and headache conditions are not found to be related to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disease of the lumbar spine was increased to a 40 percent rating effective from May 8, 1995. Prior to this date, his condition warranted a 20 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, cold weather-related rash, and residuals of right and left hand injuries due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence supporting service connection for a back disability, right ear disability, dizziness, or residuals of cold weather injury to the hands. The veteran's symptoms were not linked to her military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back injury is not due to his own willful misconduct and finds that he has a well-grounded claim for service connection. The evidence supports a finding of continuity of symptomatology from service, with current treatment related to those service-connected symptoms.

The Board has found that the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder is well grounded and granted the claim.

The Board determined that the veteran had not submitted sufficient new and material evidence with which to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability.

The Board granted initial evaluations of 10 percent for the service-connected right and left patellofemoral syndrome, effective from October 5, 1995.

The Board found no evidence of a current low back disability other than dorsolumbar scoliosis, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, right ankle disorder, and right foot disorder are not well-grounded. As such, these claims have been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, holding that it was not clear and unmistakable error in the December 1946 rating decision.

The veteran's service-connected low back disorder, involving dorsolumbar paravertebral myositis and a small disc herniation at L4-L5, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the disability does not warrant an increase in rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability is not well-grounded, and his request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right quadriceps strain was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have arthritis of multiple joints or a low back disorder due to disease or injury incurred in service. The evidence does not support these claims.