Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that it is more likely than not related to a motorcycle accident during service in November 1988.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service injury and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability warranted a 10 percent evaluation from February 22, 1997, through June 17, 2001. From June 18, 2001, the evaluation was increased to 20 percent.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's back disability, which is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis warrants a 40 percent rating. A separate 10 percent rating is assigned for the arthritis of the thoracic spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not suffer a right eye injury or disease during service, and his current right eye problem is unrelated to service. The low back condition began years after service and was not caused by any incident of service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back disability have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder, which was previously denied in December 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and a back condition, including sciatic neuropathy. The decision did not address exposure to herbicides or any other specific basis.

The veteran's low back disorder is currently rated at 40 percent, and his shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating for either condition is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The veteran's service-connected conditions were not found to warrant an increased rating, resulting in a denial of his claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's disabilities, including back pain, PTSD, and knee injury, have rendered him unemployable due to his age, education, and occupational history. Effective September 17, 2001, the veteran is entitled to a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations related to his left hip disorder, degenerative disc disease at L3-4, residuals of a left ankle fracture, and left knee disorder. The effective date for the grant of service connection for a left knee disorder was set as July 23, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of fractures of lumbar vertebrae, finding that there was no evidence to support a finding of aggravation during service and concluding that any pre-existing condition did not worsen as a result of military service.

The veteran's claim for TDIU was granted effective from May 26, 2000, when his combined service-connected ratings reached 70 percent. The RO also increased the evaluation for right femur disability to 10 percent and left knee disability to 10 percent, both effective from May 26, 2000.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied, as his condition is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the April 1993 decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right hip, low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his low back disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.