Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disability, and thus denied all three claims for service connection.

The Board found no probative medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder to her service, and denied entitlement to service connection. For migraine headaches, the Board noted that while they were productive of disability, they did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and skin cysts, but denied the claims for low back disability and multiple shell fragment wounds (SFW) of the right leg due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The skin cysts are presumed to be related to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, residuals of a right collar bone fracture, and residuals of a left foot fracture due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claimed hip and back conditions are not service connected as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected shrapnel wound of the right buttock.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 1, 1980 for the TDIU based on the veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from working.

The Board has granted effective dates of August 23, 1999 for the grants of a 20% rating for lumbosacral spine strain and cervical spine strain.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, hip, and back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral heel stress fractures.

The veteran's failure to report for a scheduled VA medical examination without good cause resulted in the denial of his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent from April 26, 1995, and in excess of 40 percent from October 7, 1996, for service-connected low back disability. The appeal was based on a direct service connection.

The veteran's service-connected recurrent low back strain is rated at 20 percent, effective October 5, 1996. The hiatal hernia remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right total knee replacement and lumbosacral spine arthritis and disc disease are service-connected due to aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current back disability or skin condition to his active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and postoperative residuals of a cholecystectomy. However, it found that these conditions do not warrant ratings higher than 10 percent.

The RO denied the veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, hypertension, and a back disorder in October 1987 and June 1990. The decisions are final as to these issues.

The Board found that the RO did not commit clear and unmistakable error by reducing the rating for the veteran's low back disability from 10 to 0 percent effective June 4, 1955. The claim for compensation at the former 10 percent level retroactive to the date of reduction is denied.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain from August 26, 1996. The veteran's condition is characterized by muscle spasm, narrowing of joint space in the lumbosacral spine, osteoarthritic changes, persistent low back pain, limitation of motion, and specific functional limitations associated with the back.

The Board found 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 has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities include a cervical spine injury, numbness of both hands, defective vision, muscle spasm of the rib cage, and a back condition. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied based on the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for various disorders.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and increased evaluations for gunshot wounds to the left leg. The neurological disorder of the left lower extremity was found to be in-service.