Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for herniated and bulging discs of the cervical and lumbar spine, finding that his current condition was not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1 warrants a 40 percent evaluation as of December 9, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that there is no current low back disorder causally related to the veteran's active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating of in excess of 20 percent is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and left knee disability are now effective from April 24, 1987.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection as there is no evidence of current disabilities involving the upper back and shoulders, and the VA examination did not show any abnormalities.

The Board found that the evidence did not establish a current low back disorder or any in-service injury, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a low back injury and residuals of a hip injury, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied a higher rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain, finding that even with pain, no more than slight overall limitation of lumbar motion was shown.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not render him permanently and totally disabled for pension purposes, as they are rated at less than 100% combined.

The veteran's low back disability results in a severe lumbosacral strain, warranting a 40 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5295. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against entitlement to a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the veteran's current conditions are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder in service or within one year post-service, and concluded that the current condition is not related to service. The veteran's current back pain is linked to an injury sustained at work in 1990.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine warrants a 40 percent evaluation, which is the maximum allowed under the applicable rating criteria. The evidence does not support an increase in this evaluation.

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

The Board denied service connection for refractive error of the eyes, gastrointestinal disability (manifested by frequent diarrhea), and low back disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 18, 2000, for a grant of service connection for a low back disability.