Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for a low back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Crohn's disease and Degenerative disc disease, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of gunshot wound injuries, scars, low back strain, and mycotic fungus of the feet were denied. The conditions are considered to be service-connected directly without any presumption or secondary linkage.

The Board granted a 20 percent initial evaluation for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine as of January 15, 2001.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's lumbar disc disease with irritation at L4-5, S1.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 7, 1998 for a 20 percent disability evaluation for thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis with low back pain. The decision found that the increase in disability did not precede the claim and was instead shown to have occurred after the claim.

The Board denied compensable evaluations for the veteran's service-connected left shoulder chip fracture and lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease, finding no functional impairment in either condition.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar paravertebral and gluteal fibromyositis does not warrant a higher disability rating as his condition is currently evaluated at 20 percent, which reflects severe strain or listing of the whole spine to the opposite side.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the veteran's right knee disability, effective from September 18, 1992. The issue of service connection for a back disability secondary to the right knee disorder is also granted.

The Board granted service connection for right hip arthroplasty and assigned an effective date of February 1998. The claim for earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a low back disorder was also granted, with the effective date set at September 27, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the hands and feet, initial compensable evaluation for sinusitis, an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes, and separate evaluations for bilateral knee degenerative changes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine warrants a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of his claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current back disorder is not related to his military service, and thus denied service connection for it.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, hepatitis B, residuals of right ankle injury, and low back disability due to lack of credible supporting evidence for in-service stressors and no current disabilities related to service.

The VA determined that the veteran's low back disability, which is rated at 20 percent, does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating based on severe limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating effective from July 7, 1993, based on his service-connected psychiatric disorder and low back disorder.

The Board denied secondary service connection for a back disorder and denied an increased rating for the service-connected right knee disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied in June 1984, but new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claims. The claim for a left wrist chip fracture is granted with a 10% rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder, lumbosacral strain, and residuals of left knee injury do not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis of both knees and lumbar spine, finding no evidence of active rheumatoid arthritis or chronic residuals.