Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar strain, finding that the current manifestations do not warrant such an increase.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for herniated lumbar disc, gastrointestinal disorder, and hemorrhoids. The decision is final as it was affirmed by the Court.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc and joint disease of the low back warrants a 60 percent rating, which is the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5293.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disorder and granted it as secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disorders. The veteran's low back disorder is aggravated by his service-connected foot disorders.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disorder. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct an examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a herniated disc of the lumbar spine. The issue of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss is also addressed, but the veteran does not have current hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his low back disability, are not related to service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disorder were denied as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and concluded that any current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service. For the back disorder, the Board noted that arthritis was not present until many years after service and could not be presumed to have resulted from herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the appellant's current chronic low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by wartime service, and arthritis of the lumbar spine could not be presumed to have been so incurred. The preponderance of evidence does not reveal a link between the appellant's current condition and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's disability of the lumbosacral spine is manifested by severe limitation of motion and recurrent pain attacks with intermittent relief, warranting a 40 percent evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not related to his POW experiences.

The Board dismissed the appellant's appeals due to his withdrawal of all his appeals before the Board.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spinal stenosis is a result of his service-connected low back condition and finds it to be more than severe. The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a fractured coccyx and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding no current disability or causal link to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability secondary to his left knee disability and an increased evaluation for his left knee disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for a low back disability and that the criteria for an increased rating were not met.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board granted an increased rating of 50 percent for the service-connected back disability, classified as post-traumatic degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with wedging of T1 and L1 vertebral bodies. The claim for a higher evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back and cervical spine disorders, acquired psychiatric disorder, cardiovascular disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome. The veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability is not related to any disease or injury incurred during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected lumbar sprain, finding that the disability is principally manifested by severe limitation of motion and pain, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.