Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and a skin disorder, both on the basis of direct service connection. The veteran's request to reopen these claims was not supported by new and material evidence.

The Board found no evidence of current lumbosacral strain and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has vacated the May 2000 decision and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA medical records.

The Board found that the decision to discontinue the veteran's fee-basis outpatient medical care for his service-connected back disability was not arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations in excess of 20 percent for post-traumatic neck strain and recurrent low back pain, with a history of coccyx injury.

The veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, PTSD, and back disability are denied. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish a well-grounded claim for COPD due to Agent Orange exposure. However, the claims of PTSD and back disability were found to be well grounded.

The Board dismissed the appellant's appeal as there was a withdrawal of his appeal by the appellant prior to any decision being made.

The VA determined that the veteran's current disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is appropriate at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of arthritis of the shoulders and increased disability evaluations for his service-connected sinusitis and lumbar strain with mild degenerative changes. The Board found no evidence of arthritis in either shoulder during active duty or within one year post-service, and concluded that any current arthritis is not related to service.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and cerebral hemorrhage as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral disc disease and strain, and denied entitlement to TDIU.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with arthritis of the low back was denied, and his claim for service connection for a lung condition was also denied.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current back disorder to her active service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and a back disorder are not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active military service. The claim for secondary service connection for legs and feet condition due to exposure to ionizing radiation also lacks sufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's lumbar strain, chondromalacia patellae (bilateral), residuals of right ankle sprain, and flat feet. The RO assigned a 10 percent evaluation to each condition effective from July 1996.

The veteran's lower back disorder and lump on the left calf were found to have onset in service, warranting service connection for these conditions. The veteran was granted a disability rating of 100% for his degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability, including due to service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound of the right lower leg.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, a 20 percent evaluation for residuals of a back injury, and a 10 percent evaluation for residuals of a left shoulder injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back, headaches, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorders were not related to his military service and denied his claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability.