Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied service connection for an ear disorder, a back disorder, and residuals of head injury (including tinnitus and headaches). The claim for bilateral hip strain was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection, finding that his back and leg condition did not increase in disability during active duty for training.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back disability, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and other issues related to the veteran's abdominal adhesions. The effective date of these decisions is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current herniated disc disease began during his active duty and is related to an injury he sustained in service. Therefore, service connection for this disability is granted.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and degenerative disc disease is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under current VA regulations. The left ankle condition is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, left leg disability, and left arm disability due to a lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints and a low back disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant before final decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar as a residual of a microdiskectomy of the lumbar spine, but denied service connection for hearing loss disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for eligibility for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that his preexisting condition did not worsen during service and there was no evidence of an injury or aggravation in service.

The veteran's service-connected hypertension caused or worsened his coronary artery disease, which is now granted as secondary to his service-connected condition. The low back strain issue remains pending and will be addressed in a future rating decision.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence. The veteran's current low back disorder is not shown to be related to his military service or any in-service occurrence or event, nor can it be presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents used in Vietnam. The skin infection issue has been denied as a matter of law. The PTSD claim was reduced from 70% to 50%, but the veteran is not entitled to restoration of the higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current prostate disorder and concluded that his low back disability pre-existed service. The Board denied both claims for service connection.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar disc disease prior to September 23, 2002 as the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for low back injury due to new and material evidence submitted by the veteran, including a statement from Dr. Campbell.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for chronic low back strain and left displaced articular disk, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current right hip or low back disability and that any symptoms he experiences are not related to his service-connected right knee disability. Therefore, service connection for these disabilities is denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his low back disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent for the period beginning March 13, 1998.