Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for upper back, right hip, and right leg disorders are not well grounded. The RO denied these claims in their initial decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension benefits because he does not meet the criteria for aid and attendance or housebound status due to his disabilities. The evidence showed that the veteran is able to perform self-care activities, walk with a cane, drive an automobile, and leave his home when necessary.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA orthopedic examination. The veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating for chronic lumbosacral strain is pending, while his claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder remains unresolved.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic low back disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the March 1982 decision. However, the claim remains denied as there is no credible evidence linking the current condition to active service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease as secondary to the veteran's service-connected fracture of left transverse process at L2 and denied entitlement to a compensable disability rating for that condition.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease at C4-5, with fusion of C5-6, finding that it is equivalent to unfavorable ankylosis of the cervical spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is related to his military service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and awarded a 100% rating effective from November 5, 1993. The claim of reopening the low back disorder was also granted.

The Board found that the veteran's skin condition, including fatty tumors, and disorder manifested by headaches and dizziness are not well grounded as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to an incident of service. The claim for a back disorder was found to be well grounded due to treatment in 1982 after a fall from a truck while on active duty for training.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability did not begin during service and is not related to any incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a low back disability is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected mechanical low back pain, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back disability, finding that there was no well-grounded claim for either issue.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for post-operative residuals of a right nephrectomy and low back disorder are not well-grounded, thus denying these claims.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric and back disorders, as well as a groin condition. The claims for skin and hematoma of the left tibia were not well-grounded.

The veteran's appeals for increased evaluation and temporary total rating based on required convalescence following surgery were denied due to his failure to cooperate with the VA in obtaining necessary evidence.

The VA denied the veteran's request for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on severe symptoms or functional loss.

The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions present during service or within the first post-service year, and denied claims for direct service connection for gastroesophageal reflux, sinusitis, headaches, and a low back condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is not well grounded. The evidence does not establish a relationship between any neck pains experienced during active service and his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a low back injury with degenerative disc disease and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The claim for hypertension was not supported by the evidence, resulting in no rating being assigned.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation of his condition.