Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for low back disability other than myalgia. The veteran's myalgia of the back, if present, is productive of no significant functional impairment.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus existed prior to service and did not permanently increase in severity during his active service. The back disorder was not present in service, and there is no evidence linking it to service or any incident of service.

The veteran's service connection claim for a disability of the cervical spine, specifically degenerative disc disease, is granted.

The Board denied the appellant's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected left hip fracture, finding no evidence that the current low back condition is related to his service-connected injury.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted, sufficient to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sacroiliac instability and a low back disability, other than right sciatic neuropathy and sacroiliac instability. The evidence submitted since the March 1991 denial was either cumulative or redundant.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for neck injury residuals and low back pain, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or during an applicable presumption period.

The Board denied a higher rating for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for disability compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding no additional disability to his low back as a result of the August 1988 VA surgery.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's low back disability is not related to his active service and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability due to the absence of any evidence of current disability and no nexus between the claimed condition and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral knee and right ankle disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder, which is now considered secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. However, the Board found that there was no objective evidence associating the back disorder with the left knee disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure of the appellant to attend a requested personal hearing at the RO. The case will be returned for further action after compliance with all regulatory procedures.

The veteran has withdrawn their appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, but the merits of the claim have not yet been decided.