Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as there is no official verification of his claimed period of active duty for training in April 1982 or any documentation of such injuries. The claim was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rotoscoliosis of the lumbar spine, first degree AV block, and vasovagal syncope as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder is not causally or etiologically related to his active service, including his service-connected residuals of a left hip injury.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder. Service connection was denied for a heart disorder.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The issue will now be decided on its merits.

The veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The VA determined that the veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and left knee neuropathy and arthralgia does not warrant a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disorder, left hand disorder, left hip disorder, and low back disorder. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current back disorder or PTSD related to service. The evidence shows no chronic back symptoms in service and no current diagnosis of PTSD linked to an in-service stressor.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected chronic low back strain is primarily manifested by mild degenerative joint disease at the mid and lower lumbar spine, muscle spasm on extreme forward bending, unilateral loss of lateral spine motion in the standing position, and not more than moderate limitation of motion of the lumbar spine. The criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent were not met.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating of 20 percent for her service-connected low back disability, finding that her symptoms did not warrant an evaluation in excess of this level.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his low back disability, currently rated at 20 percent.

The VA denied a disability evaluation in excess of 40 percent for post-operative herniated lumbar disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1, as the current symptoms do not warrant an increased rating.

The veteran's service-connected thoracic and lumbosacral spine disability is rated at 40 percent, but the claim for a higher evaluation remains denied. The total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness with blackouts and a back condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, which was previously denied in August 1975.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal regarding the initial disability rating assigned for his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and hearing loss, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus did not clearly and unmistakably preexist service, nor was it aggravated by service. The veteran is also denied special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance due to his disabilities.