Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2001

The Board has denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that the new evidence submitted does not provide a competent medical opinion attributing the current condition to service or showing arthritis was manifested within one year of separation from service.

The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from December 27, 1996. The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease with hypertension and lumbosacral strain have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment since December 27, 1996.

The VA determined that the appellant's low back strain with sciatic neuritis, secondary to a herniated intervertebral disc at L5-S1, more closely approximates the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation due to moderate to severe limitation of motion in the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, a right hip disability, and a psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a chronic low back disorder during active service and that his current low back disorder is not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and fibromyalgia, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during active duty for training.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain warrants a 10 percent rating, as it is productive of slight limitation of motion and pain with motion. The appeal was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with low back pain is not due to disease or injury incurred in service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board found no current diagnosed disabilities of the left wrist, low back, or bilateral knees and denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted a 40 percent evaluation effective October 28, 1998. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability is service-connected, and his bilateral knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including bronchitis, bilateral knee condition, bilateral leg pain, concussion, right shoulder dislocation, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L5-S1, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a back disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been presented.

The Board has determined that additional development is required to clarify the veteran's asthma and lower back disability, including whether these conditions pre-existed service or were aggravated by military service.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability, which was previously rated at 20 percent, has been increased to a 40 percent rating effective from the date of his last prior evaluation.

The VA determined that the appellant's lumbosacral strain is mildly symptomatic and does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's years of service, including his time as a navigator and flight engineer aboard a B-52 aircraft, may be related to his current low back disability. However, there is no direct evidence linking his service to this condition.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for a back disorder, but denied it on the merits. The new evidence submitted by Dr. Ingram supports the appellant's claim that his current back condition may be linked to active duty for training, but the VA examiner concluded that the condition is more likely related to a pre-service injury.

The veteran's service-connected orthopedic disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, and his cervical and thoracic spine disabilities are each rated at 30 and 10 percent respectively. The RO has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, resulting in a denial.