Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as there is no evidence of additional disability in the form of low back manifestations of sciatica or an adverse reaction to dye resulting from a VA myelogram administered in August 1979.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and internal derangement of the right knee, effective from the date of the June 1993 rating decision. The veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for either condition.

The VA has denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected low back pain and left shoulder conditions, finding that current symptoms do not warrant higher disability evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a temporary total rating for convalescence following March 2000 lumbar disc surgery, finding that his convalescence was not due to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder and degenerative disease of the back, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, both secondary to the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are not found to be the primary cause of his peripheral vascular disease and back condition. The Board finds that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral scoliosis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, finding that these conditions are more likely than not due to the veteran's preexisting lumbosacral scoliosis which was aggravated during service.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for the appellant's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with degenerative arthritis and bilateral facet hypertrophy, effective from June 23, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding no competent evidence of a nexus between his current disability and any injury in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and cervical spine disorder, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for PTSD. The VA examinations indicated that any current neck or back disorders were not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected conjunctivitis and low back strain, finding that there were no residuals of active conjunctivitis and that the maximum schedular rating for limitation of motion or lumbosacral strain was already assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected back disability does not warrant a higher rating than the current 40 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's thoracic segment of the spine disability does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as there is no evidence of severe limitation of motion. The lumbar segment of the spine disability remains at 40 percent.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, but denied the request for an initial evaluation for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the appellant's low back strain, right ankle sprains, and chronic sinusitis are service-connected. However, there is no evidence of a current right knee disorder or defective hearing related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for chronic low back strain and recurrent left ankle sprain are denied as there is no evidence of more than minimal limitation of motion or functional loss due to pain.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability and awarded a 10% disability rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected conditions, including a total left knee replacement and impairment of Muscle Group XIV. The lumbar spine condition remains at its current evaluation.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence supported a 10 percent disability evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for low back strain, finding that her symptoms did not warrant such an increase.