Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since January 1981. The veteran sustained an injury to his lower back during active service, and he currently has a low back disorder that has been continuous since separation from service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease with scoliosis, is service-connected due to its aggravation by his service-connected pes planus.

The Board finds that the evidence is evenly balanced for and against the claim of service connection for a low back disorder, with a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease at L5-S1. Therefore, his claim for this benefit is granted.

The Board found that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him bedridden or in need of regular aid and attendance, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability in service and concluded that the current back disability is not related to any inservice injury. The veteran's inconsistent statements about his inservice injury were deemed unreliable.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder but denied it on the merits. The evidence submitted did not provide new and significant information that would warrant reopening the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with right L4-L5 radiculopathy and a total rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's current lumbar spine disability is causally related to his in-service chronic lumbar strain and developmental scoliosis, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that it was not caused or made worse by his service-connected bilateral knee disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C, hearing loss, and a back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence showing a current low back disorder related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's neck pain, mid and low back pain, left hip disorder, or left knee disorder to his service-connected left ankle disability. The claim for increased evaluation of tarsal tunnel syndrome was granted but at a 20% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise on whether there was continuous post-service symptomatology of low back pain.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there is no medical evidence to support the relationship between his service-connected shell fragment wounds and his current low back complaints.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for reopening service connection and the issues of PTSD and neck/cervical spine condition are not before the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and an increased rating for residuals of a left knee laceration, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board finds that the veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is not causally or etiologically related to his active military service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection and an increased rating for PTSD for purposes of accrued benefits due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for low back syndrome, but granted compensable evaluations for dry skin of the feet.