Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, schizophrenia, arthritis of the knees, and right leg length discrepancy. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left ankle disability was also denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and residuals of a head injury from shell fragments, but denied service connection for hemorrhoids as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board determined that the veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability due to the appellant's failure to report for a necessary VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during the periods in question.

The veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his service-connected low back disability was denied. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability has been rated based on the criteria for degenerative disc disease and related radiculopathy. The appeals for higher ratings have not met the established criteria under the current rating schedule.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the December 1979 rating decision.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, and his residuals of a shell fragment wound are rated at 20 percent. The lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is not service-connected.

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

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's service-connected low back strain with minimal scoliosis and rotation of lumbar spine is currently rated as noncompensably disabling. The Board finds no basis for a higher evaluation based on the current evidence, which shows slight subjective symptoms without limitation of motion. Service connection for gout was denied due to lack of medical evidence showing its existence from military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for epididymitis and a back disability, finding no current disabilities exist that are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding no evidence of a current disability that was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left hip, left knee, and back disorders are not service-connected. However, his combined rating for service-connected disabilities is sufficient to render him individually unemployable.

The Board found that the appellant's low back disorder was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder is related to a fall he experienced in service, and granted his claim for service connection.

The RO increased the evaluation for chondromalacia of the right knee with meniscal tear from zero to 20 percent, effective February 1998. The other conditions and issues remain unchanged.

The Board denied the veteran's attempts to reopen his claims of service connection for a low back disorder and a psychiatric disorder, finding that the new evidence submitted was not material.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorder is, in part, due to an inservice injury and granted service connection for a back disorder.