Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran does not have a low back disability and denied service connection for it as secondary to his service-connected Haglund's deformity of the right and left heels.

The Board found no competent medical evidence showing that any currently diagnosed neck or back disorder is related to the veteran's active military service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's bilateral foot disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from May 1998. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects his symptoms and does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for dependency and indemnity compensation benefits, finding that the claim was not filed until February 9, 1999 when new evidence (the amended death certificate) established entitlement.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain with limitation of motion and degenerative joint disease is rated at 60 percent since July 1, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and prostate disorder, finding that there was no evidence of current conditions or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability, manifested by recurrent back pain and positive straight leg raising tests, especially on the right, resulted from a pre-existing defect of the back which was subject to superimposed injury during service. Therefore, service connection is granted for this purpose.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic acquired back disorder and a cyst of the back, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such nature and severity as to prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's service-connected disability of herniated nucleus pulposus L4-L5 and S1 with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder. However, the claims for all other conditions remain denied as there is no current evidence of these disorders or their association with active military service.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's cervical spine disorder effective October 1, 1997. The RO also granted a 20 percent rating for chronic lumbar strain with mild compression deformity of the posterior aspect of the L5 vertebral body from October 1, 1997 to March 8, 2000 and a 10 percent rating thereafter.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence showing a causal relationship between the veteran's service-connected right knee disorder and his current low back disorder, thus denying secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine and assigned a 20 percent disability rating. Service connection was denied for bilateral knee disorder, left hand disorder, bilateral wrist disorder, and right ear otitis media and externa.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability and granted it, finding that his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine had its onset during service.

The Board denied service connection for a mid and low back disorder, but granted a higher disability evaluation (20%) for the veteran's recurrent cervical spine disorder.

The VA reduced the veteran's evaluation for his lumbar disc disease from 60 percent to 40 percent, and now seeks to restore it back to 60 percent. However, the VA found that there was sustained material improvement in the veteran's condition.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, which is the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5293.