Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability is not service-connected, and his left shoulder disability did not occur during active service. The claims for reopening of hearing disability and skin disorder have been granted.

The veteran's low back strain and hypertension are rated, but the cervical spine arthritis has been granted service connection based on new evidence.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (lumbosacral spine disability, residuals of a right thigh GSW, and status post arthroplasty, right knee) prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for establishing entitlement to TDIU are met.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was incurred as a result of an injury during his active military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The RO has granted an increased rating to 60 percent effective from June 1, 1998. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration of the new rating provisions.

The veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status since December 1, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches, low back disability, and syphilis were not related to service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of residuals from head injuries or syphilis in service.

The Board denied an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it more nearly approximates a moderate limitation of motion and thus warrants a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that his current condition is unrelated to any injury or disease in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, low back disability, and transient global amnesia. The claim to reopen a kidney disorder (Blight's disease) was also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her husband's previously denied claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since January 1961.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder did not have its origins in his first period of service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for low back spina bifida occulta, finding no current condition and no credible nexus to a service-connected disability or active service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a lumbar spine disability related to her service and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been remanded due to the addition of new evidence and changes in his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have not been found to warrant increased ratings, and no compensable rating has been assigned for his scars.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorder and low back disability did not begin during service or due to any incident of service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's back disorder is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service and no medical opinion linking current symptoms to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain with minimal degenerative changes is currently evaluated at 20 percent and does not warrant a higher rating.