Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left foot disability, irritable bowel syndrome, back disability, collapsed lung, bronchitis, and a gynecological disorder (claimed as cervicitis with dysplasia).

The veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection based on direct service incurrence.

The veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to multiple physical disabilities, including degenerative intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine, traumatic arthritis of the right ankle joint, reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the right leg and foot, mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, low back disorder, and left hip disorder. The stress fractures of the calcaneus are not productive of any disability.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for the veteran's lumbosacral sprain with pain on motion, finding that it did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection of right knee and low back disabilities, but has reopened the claim for service connection of a left knee disability. The veteran's left knee disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected left lower extremity disability.

The Board found that the December 1, 1961 rating decision did not address service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and determined it was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The claim for an effective date earlier than January 17, 1992 for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder was also denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied by the RO. The Board remanded the case to obtain additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of employment records.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and no further action will be taken on his case.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic low back, left hip, and left knee disorders. The appeals are granted.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic low back disability and a rash on the palms of the hands due to Agent Orange exposure. The veteran's claim for increased evaluation for PTSD was granted, but his TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of claims for service connection for neck and back disorders.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated during his military service and denied his claim.

The veteran's status post left knee meniscectomy residuals do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. The RO will need to obtain all VA treatment records and schedule a VA examination to assess his atypical depression with somatization and chronic low back pain.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective December 6, 2000. The appeal for an earlier effective date than June 30, 1997, for the increase in disability evaluation was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fallen arches, skin disorder, and right hip, low back, and bilateral knee disabilities. The decision also denied his attempt to reopen a previously denied claim for a skin disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The RO will need to provide additional examinations and consider the evidence in determining whether a right shoulder disability is present, as well as review all other issues on appeal.

The veteran's residuals of frozen feet are found to be service-connected. The hearing loss and iritis issues remain unresolved.