Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility to nonservice-connected pension due to a lack of service requirements, as his active duty and inactive duty training did not meet the criteria set by VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's thoracic spine disorder effective May 27, 1997. The December 1990 rating decision denying service connection was found to contain no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has granted a 30% evaluation for mitral valve prolapse and denied increased evaluations for low back strain and arthritis of multiple joints. The claim to reopen the service connection for arthritis was not found to be new and material.

The Board found no objective clinical evidence of PTSD and the veteran refused to participate in a VA psychiatric examination. The diminished vision, injury of ribs on left side of chest, and low back injury were not incurred or aggravated during active service.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee degenerative joint disease secondary to residuals of arthrotomy of the left knee was granted, and he is now receiving a 20 percent evaluation. The issue of service connection for a low back disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee condition was also granted.

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

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes cavus does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and low back disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, warranting compensation for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities, right knee and left knee disabilities, and an eye disability. The decision is final.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, a left shoulder disorder, chronic low back pain, and Klinefelter's Syndrome as not well grounded. The claimant was also denied a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of one or both feet, hands, vision, or ankylosis of knees or hips. Therefore, the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle with special adaptive equipment are not met.

The Board has granted service connection for low back pain as an undiagnosed illness due to exposure in the Persian Gulf War, based on objective indications of chronic disability that cannot be attributed to any known clinical diagnosis.

The veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a low back disorder was granted due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeals as there was no timely substantive appeal filed with respect to the issues of reopening a claim for service connection and entitlement to service connection.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the May 11, 1977 rating decision that denied service connection for a low back disorder.

The veteran's service-connected low back injury is rated at a 40 percent evaluation, effective November 2, 1994. The evaluations for the left knee and foreign object removed from the left foot remain unchanged.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back disorder, hypertension, and residuals of head injury with concussion and skull fracture were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for residuals of nose fracture is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an increased evaluation of his service-connected low back disability, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hypertension or chronic low back disability that was incurred in service, and thus denied both claims.