Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) to his active military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability during service and concluded that the current condition began after a motor vehicle accident many years post-service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and clarifying whether he is also claiming service connection for additional back disability.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's low back disorder, effective March 25, 1998. The disability was characterized as lumbosacral strain and lumbar spine disk disease.

The veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was denied as his claim is not supported by evidence showing he has been disabled since November 27, 1987. The effective date of the TDIU award remains December 2, 1999.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits was granted, with the effective date set at September 15, 1997.

The Board found that the veteran's back disorder and left eye injury are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between his current conditions and his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including loss of use of the left foot and cauda equina syndrome, have rendered him unable to walk without assistance. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for specially adapted housing but not a special home adaptation grant.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection of an upper back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.,VA failed to grant an earlier effective date for a 10% disability rating for residuals of right fifth toe surgery.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar disc disease, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis are not related to service or a service-connected disability. The evaluation of residuals of a right knee injury remains unchanged at zero percent. The evaluation for dysthymic disorder with depression and mood swings is also unchanged at 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right shoulder, left shoulder, and lumbar spine. The claim for avitaminosis is denied as there is no current evidence of such condition.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied all secondary service connection claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and increased evaluations for residuals of a head injury and lumbar strain with spondylolysis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the reduction of a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease at L4-5 was not warranted, as the veteran's symptoms did not improve and continued to include pain.

The Board granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, classified as residuals of a laminectomy at L4-L5 and L5-S1, effective from December 1, 1991 to September 17, 1993.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current low back disability originated during his military service and is therefore granted entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back injury with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine does not warrant a disability evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding no medical evidence linking it to a 1946 injury during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a lumbar spine injury, finding no evidence of an in-service injury and insufficient medical evidence to establish a current disability related to service.