Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of his cervical and lumbosacral spine, left shoulder, and left knee on a secondary basis to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence showing the condition was incurred or aggravated during active duty for training in June 1976. The Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence did not support the claim.

The Board has granted higher ratings of 60 percent for the lumbosacral spine disability and 20 percent rating for the cervical spine disability, both effective June 27, 2002.

The Board has found that there is competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a back disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and bipolar disorder, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected left ankle fracture.

The Board has determined that the veteran's disability rating for his lumbar and low thoracic spine chronic pain syndrome and chronic lumbar strain is at its maximum schedular evaluation of 40 percent, which is the highest available under the applicable diagnostic codes. Therefore, a higher rating cannot be granted.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, but denied claims for hypertension, head injury residuals, headaches, and sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for a low back condition (characterized as chronic lumbosacral strain aggravating pre-existing L5-S1 spondylolisthesis) is December 21, 1957.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for a back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the June 1978 denial.

The Board denied a higher rating for the veteran's degenerative facet disease at the levels of the 11th and 12th thoracic (T11-12) vertebrae and the fifth lumbar and first sacral segment (L5-S1), currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the final denial in December 1983.

The Board found no evidence of a back injury in service and concluded that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain, finding no basis to grant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, finding that the current conditions are not related to any disease or injury incurred during active military service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and granted a 20% rating for the appellant's low back disability, effective February 24, 2000.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted subsequent to the January 2000 decision.