Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was not incurred in or aggravated during active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes, finding that his disabilities were due to his own willful misconduct and did not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered additional examinations and development of the record, including obtaining employment records from VA. The case is being remanded to comply with these orders.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of being in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person was denied as he does not meet the legal requirements to receive such benefits based on his multiple disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left ankle disorders, as well as bronchitis. The RO previously granted service connection for bilateral patellar tendonitis and detorsion of the left testicle with bilateral orchiopexy but did not assign a compensable rating.

The veteran's low back strain is not shown to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left knee disorders, as well as granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder. The effective date remains unchanged at March 22, 2001.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected low back disorder, which was previously rated at 10 percent. The condition is manifested by characteristic pain on motion and muscle spasm, with severe strain or more than moderate limitation of motion not shown.

The Board has determined that the appellant's lumbago and degenerative disease of the lumbar spine do not warrant a rating higher than the current 40 percent evaluation.

The veteran's disabilities do not render him unable to independently perform daily functions of self-care or to protect himself from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment, nor is he housebound. Therefore, special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is denied.

The veteran's appeal involves issues related to his lumbosacral strain and service connection for heart disorder. The case is being remanded for further development, including adjudication of the service connection issue.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain and peripheral neuropathy, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim for chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound of the mid-back or thoraco-lumbar spine area meet the criteria for a disability rating of 30 percent from September 14, 1996.

The Board found no current objective pathology involving the veteran's low back and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability was not present in service or demonstrated for many years later, and is not related to an incident of service or to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for chronic cervical spine, low back and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service. The veteran's headaches are rated at 10 percent since October 30, 1997.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was not caused by, proximately due to, or aggravated by his service-connected ligamentous strain of the right knee. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the ligamentous strain of the right knee have not been met.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's low back disability is not related to his active duty for training and denied service connection.