Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder, as well as his claims for cold injury residuals of both lower extremities and gunshot wound residuals of the left wrist.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder and psychiatric disorder are not well grounded claims, as there is no competent medical evidence showing a direct relationship to service.

The veteran's Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the knees and osteoarthritis of the right shoulder are not service-connected, while his degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is rated at a 10% disability level.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not well-grounded, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or post-service treatment related to these conditions.

The Board finds that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, bilateral shoulder disability and PTSD are not well-grounded.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of sufficient severity to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for mid-back and low-back disorders is not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking a current disorder to service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a neck or back condition during service and no current disability linked to service. Therefore, the veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, currently evaluated as 40 percent disabling, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating. The highest schedular rating assignable is 40 percent.

The veteran's TDIU award was granted with an effective date of October 18, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of left clavicle fracture, finding no competent medical evidence linking current disabilities to military service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for a videoconference hearing at the Winston-Salem, North Carolina Regional Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Your appeals on service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, cervical spine, and lumbar spine have been dismissed due to your death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and a psychiatric disability are not well grounded. The claim for service connection for post-traumatic osteoarthritis is found to be well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder warrants a 40 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations. The fracture of the right distal radius does not warrant any compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, obesity secondary to chondromalacia of the knees, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection on direct basis was not well-grounded as there was no evidence linking the current disorders to service or service-connected conditions. For obesity, the VA examiner concluded it developed independently of the knee condition. For bilateral hearing loss, the veteran did not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the veteran's low back syndrome with degenerative joint disease, which is the maximum available under the applicable criteria.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, finding that it meets the criteria for severe limitation of motion.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss with tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service.,The veteran's cervical spine disorder and lumbar spine disorder are not related to service.