Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder. The veteran's spinal lipoma is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted an increased evaluation for his left hip disability.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 4, 2000. His bilateral pes planus is rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board has also granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle fracture and low back syndrome were denied. The VA found that the veteran did not meet criteria for higher ratings at any point.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and status post tympanoplasty, but granted service connection for a rash of various body parts. The hearing loss in the left ear was found to be noncompensable.

The veteran's service-connected post-concussive syndrome, right rotator cuff tendinitis, status post fracture of the right ankle, cervical strain, and lumbar strain have been evaluated based on their respective symptoms and limitations. The appeals for increased evaluations are granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened, but the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) found that new and material evidence was not submitted. The case is being remanded to consider whether the additional evidence constitutes new and material evidence.

The veteran's service-connected back pain is rated as 40% disabling. His osteomyelitis and fracture residuals are both rated as 20% disabling.,With reasonable doubt resolved in the veteran's favor, his total rating for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder of the feet and a back disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim for athlete's foot. The Board also found that there was no medical evidence linking the current back disorder to service.

The Board determined that the veteran had not submitted new and material evidence to warrant reopening his claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, concluding that there was no evidence of a significant injury in service and attributing current low back pathology to non-service-related factors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the initial denial of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and that the veteran did not submit a claim within one year of her discharge from service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder other than lumbar paravertebral myositis present during service or related to service-connected disability. The veteran's current low back conditions are attributed to postservice incidents and not service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain was incurred during service and is granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to that condition. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board found that the submitted evidence is not new and material to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities effective from November 24, 1987. The veteran's heart condition was not found to be incurred in or aggravated by active military service. Effective dates have been established for the lumbar and cervical spine conditions as well as a TDIU rating.

The veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia is granted a 100 percent rating. The claim for chronic disorders claimed as residual to Sarin nerve gas exposure is denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and lumbosacral strain, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a sprained back and a back disability, finding no clear and unmistakable error in previous decisions.