Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for PTSD effective June 18, 2002. The veteran's original claim for service connection was received on November 10, 1986, and his discharge had been upgraded to honorable as of September 18, 1989.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder manifested by chest pains and costochondritis, which was previously denied in January 1992.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability, which was previously denied in July 1985. The veteran's statement from Dr. H. Guti�rrez is considered new and significant.

The Board has granted the veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The CUE claim regarding the April 1978 denial is also addressed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current right hip disability or low back disability that is service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for either condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to his service-connected left femur fracture. The appeal is granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial. The issue will now be decided on its merits.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial in January 1991.

The veteran's low back injury residuals are manifested by constant and extreme pain, numbness and tingling into the legs, reduced range of motion, and normal knee jerks. The VA determined that an increased evaluation beyond 40 percent is not warranted.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective August 12, 1999. The RO also granted a rating of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities as of this date.

The Board has determined that the current evaluations for lumbosacral strain with degenerative lumbar disk disease, residuals of a gunshot wound (GSW) to Muscle Group XII, and residuals of a GSW, right leg, Muscle Group XIII do not meet the criteria for increased ratings.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, frostbite residuals, and arthritis of the knees, ankles, and lumbar spine, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claims for various conditions were denied by the RO. The Board found that none of these conditions are related to service, and some may be secondary to asbestos exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a nervous disorder and a back disorder, finding no evidence of current disabilities related to his military service.

The RO denied service connection for additional back pathology and granted an increased rating for low back strain, but the veteran is seeking a higher rating and earlier effective date.

The veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations and has not provided any good cause for his actions. As a result, the claims are being denied due to abandonment.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is related to his inservice injury and granted service connection for it.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back and knee disorders are not related to his military service, and therefore denied his claims.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was granted, with a 20% rating effective from May 6, 1995.