Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service and no medical opinion linking his current disability to service.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar disability results in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his inability to dress, undress himself, or keep himself clean and presentable.

The Board found no evidence of a back disorder in service or within one year thereafter, and concluded that the veteran's current degenerative disc disease is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and coronary artery disease, finding that the veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected low back disorder does not warrant an increased disability rating beyond the current 40 percent, and denied secondary service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation.

The VA has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected chronic low back strain with degenerative changes, effective from January 31, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back strain and scoliosis are related to his period of active service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disorder is a result of service, with aggravation during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic back disability, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and to reopen his claim for service connection for a bilateral elbow disability. The decision found that new evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the elbow disability claim.

The veteran failed to respond to VA requests for information and evidence, as well as scheduled examinations. As a result, his claims have been deemed abandoned.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of his left knee disorder. The low back disorder is found to be related to service, while the left knee disorder is found to have been aggravated by service.

The Board finds that the veteran's current low back disorder is at least as likely as not incurred during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of December 13, 1995 for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease from October 7, 1996 to December 19, 2000 was denied. The claim for a higher evaluation after December 19, 2000 was also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic low back pain and arthritis of the left knee were denied due to failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic low back pain, finding that a separate disorder alone without an underlying malady or condition does not constitute a disability for service connection purposes.

The Board has determined that sufficient evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability. The new evidence specifically addresses the etiology and date of onset of the veteran's present back disorder.

The veteran's residuals of gastric ulcer surgery are related to his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee, and thus service connection is granted. The claims for hepatitis C, a left shoulder disorder, and reopening of lumbosacral spine disc disease claim are remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbar strain with an L4-S1 disc bulge warrants a 40 percent disability rating, which is the maximum available under current VA regulations.