Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board found no competent medical evidence of PTSD and concluded that the veteran's low back disorder is not related to his military service. Therefore, both claims were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted. The March 1962 decision remains final.

The veteran's service-connected knee and back conditions have been granted increased ratings, effective March 17, 1998. Service connection for cholecystectomy has also been established.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a left wrist fracture, skin rash, low back condition, sleep disorder, lung condition with shortness of breath, and rheumatoid arthritis. The veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than any presumption or secondary relationship to service.

The Board has granted an initial 10% evaluation for the veteran's right indirect inguinal hernia disability from November 24, 1997 (the date of claim submission) through December 16, 1997. After that date, the disability is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, with associated radiculopathy of the upper extremities, warrants a rating of 40 percent.

The veteran's service-connected left knee, cervical spine arthritis, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine are all rated at their maximum levels. The veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for the service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective October 19, 1998. The claim for an earlier effective date for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the reduction from a 40% to a 20% rating for cervical spine disability was not in accordance with the law and granted restoration of the original 40% rating.

The Board found that the veteran's back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board denied service connection for both a low back disability and chest contusion residuals, finding no chronic conditions related to the veteran's service.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability was not caused by or aggravated by VA treatment in November 1994, and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for left hand arthritis, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and a back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back disorder. The veteran's claim for these benefits remains denied.

The veteran's claims for headaches, skin disorder, circulatory disorder, and low back disorder were all denied. The veteran was granted a 10% evaluation for his headaches.

The veteran's mechanical low back pain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's back condition was not incurred in service and is not related to any service-connected disability. The veteran's PTSD has been granted a rating of 30% but the maximum available rating for PTSD is 100%.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and low back disabilities, finding no new and material evidence to reopen them.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain was incurred in active service, and thus granted service connection for a back disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, right hip, and low back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right ankle strain with arthritis due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected disability.