Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence attributing the veteran's back injury to service or a period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA). The claim was denied as residuals of a back injury, including low back syndrome with lumbar hyperlordosis were not incurred during active duty.

The Board granted service connection for a gunshot wound of the left shoulder and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective from the initial grant of service connection. The appeal was not about service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder claimed as a residual of spinal tap and cyst removal, finding no evidence linking his current back pain to service.

The veteran's low back disability with degenerative joint disease has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The current evidence does not support a higher rating based on more severe symptoms or functional limitations.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spine and lumbosacral spine conditions are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for either condition.

The Board granted service connection for headaches and awarded an effective date of September 30, 1997, for the veteran's cervical spine condition.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent. The effective date for these ratings is April 15, 1993.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lower lumbar muscle sprain, left shoulder disability, and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, or left ankle disorder that is etiologically related to service. Therefore, his claims for these conditions are denied.

The veteran's low back disability has been rated at 20 percent since December 16, 1992.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied. His claim for service connection for bilateral hip replacements, claimed as secondary to his back disability, was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability that was caused or aggravated by the service-connected stress fracture residuals, and denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and increased evaluations for right and left leg pain, finding that the veteran's conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of spinal meningitis during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, as well as a right knee disorder. The Board also noted that there was insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection.

The veteran's osteoid osteoma, C6, with cervical degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease is currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board has also granted a separate 10 percent rating for the veteran's headaches.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability due to new and material evidence submitted by the veteran, including statements from family members and friends who reported that the veteran was treated for a back injury in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, low back disorder, and cramps due to undiagnosed illnesses related to his service in the Persian Gulf War. The conditions were found to be attributable to known clinical diagnoses rather than an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right leg fracture and chronic low back strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current criteria.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected low back disability with degenerative disc disease L3-S1 is manifested by complaints of pain with recurring attacks, but no clinical evidence of more than moderate limitation of motion, no demonstrable muscle spasm and no clinical or special test evidence of neurological impairment. The criteria for entitlement to a higher disability rating have not been met.