Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and right femur fracture (hip) in previous decisions. The veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,No specific exposure basis or presumption is mentioned, and the decision does not indicate whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a rating decision.

The Board found that the veteran's low back strain warranted a maximum rating of 40 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available for this condition. The evidence did not support an increase to a higher evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and fracture of the right foot, finding no legal merit or entitlement under law.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and low back disability were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, finding that the veteran's pre-existing condition did not worsen during service. Service connection was granted for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection of a back disability and also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The veteran's sole service-connected condition is the residuals of a teratoma cyst, which has been rated at 10%.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for lumbosacral strain, finding that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his low back disability, right foot disability, right knee disability, and left thigh and knee disability. The reasons were that the veteran's low back disabilities did not stem from his shell fragment wound residuals, and there was no evidence of a direct relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back pain is unlikely to be related to his active military service, and more likely attributable to a work-related injury. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back injury, and neck injury were denied as there is no current disability found to be related to military service.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder, which was previously denied in May 1993.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The claims are now the subject of further development.

The veteran's lumbar disc or spine disability is not related to VA treatment, and the Board finds that there was no additional disability as a result of such treatment. The claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and facial scars, resulting in their denial.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed low back disorder did not originate during active duty and is not related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine and low back disorders were not incurred or aggravated during service, and therefore denied his claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, finding that the condition did not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of his knee, shoulder, and back conditions. The deviated nasal septum was found to be developmental in nature and not related to service. The degenerative joint diseases were evaluated at 10% each.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral knee condition due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries.