Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2001

The Board has granted increased ratings of 20 percent for osteoarthritis of the cervical spine and 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine, effective from September 1, 1991.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is not currently diagnosed. The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and denied increased ratings for his right shoulder disability (with the highest possible rating of 10%) and low back disability.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed back, neck, right knee, and bilateral foot disorders are not related to service. The VA examinations did not find any evidence of congenital disorders or aggravation during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for left groin pain and service connection for a back disorder. The issues were remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board finds that any injury to the low back during service was acute and resolved without leaving chronic disability. Therefore, the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for postoperative residuals of degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, failed to reopen a claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury, and denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and a right shoulder disability.

The Board dismissed the motion for revision of a January 1965 decision denying service connection for a back disorder, as neither the veteran's surviving spouse nor her agent qualify as a moving party.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an increased rating and a total rating based on individual unemployability as his service-connected lumbosacral strain is currently rated at its maximum schedular evaluation, and he does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's back disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by active service. The residuals of a left hand fracture also preexisted service and were not aggravated.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and for increased ratings for his neck injury, as well as for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the veteran did not have a chronic low back disability during service or at any time thereafter, and that his current symptoms are related to post-service injuries.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic low back pain syndrome does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected low back strain and denied a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine was incurred as a result of his participation in parachute jumps while in the National Guard, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic back disability during or within one year after service.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal.

The VA determined that the veteran's low back disability, which is manifested by pain and decreased sensation in the right lower extremity, does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected postoperative lumbar laminectomy is currently evaluated at 60 percent, the maximum available rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and a skin disorder, but remanded for further development as requested by the VCAA.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine disability and left upper extremity disability, finding that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of his conditions.