Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed neck, low back, and left arm and hand injuries as there was no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the service-connected lumbar spine sprain, but denied increased evaluations for patellar tendonitis of both knees.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100% since September 11, 1997, due to total occupational and social impairment. The RO denied service connection for low back, right hip, and right leg disorders in November 1993 but reopened the claims based on new evidence received.

The veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment for an automobile is denied as he does not meet the criteria set forth by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to an in-service back injury sustained in 1957, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the veteran's current chronic low back disorder, characterized as lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease at L-1/L-2, L-4/L-5 and L-5/S-1, was incurred in active service.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes cannot be established without a current VA examination, but he failed to appear for scheduled examinations. The RO recognized additional evidence received after the December 1998 denial, including diagnoses of neck condition, bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, and dyspnea on exertion.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the appellant's current condition is not related to his service-connected low back disability.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates were dismissed due to untimely filings.,The veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for post-traumatic stress disorder was dismissed as untimely filed after the initial withdrawal of his appeal.,The veteran's claims regarding right ankle, left ankle, and left eye disorders were dismissed due to untimely filings.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including bronchitis, gastroenteritis, arthritis of the hands, a chronic back disorder, a chronic neck disorder, and hearing loss and/or tinnitus, are not shown to be related to military service. The RO has denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain and migraine headaches were denied, with the RO continuing the 10 percent evaluations assigned to those disabilities.

The Board has found that the veteran's current low back disorder is related to his service-connected activities and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left foot disability, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant an increased rating. The evidence did not show symptoms more severe than moderate.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for a grant for automobile allowance as they do not include loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, or vision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability, finding that there was no evidence of current chronic low back disability related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee overuse syndrome and low back strain, finding that these conditions are secondary to the veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability, diagnosed as a chronic thoracolumbar sprain with referred pain to the right flank, was incurred during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection of a low back disability. The veteran's current diagnosis of herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5 is associated with her military service.