Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding no evidence linking the current condition to service or any event thereof. The veteran's thoracic spine disability is not considered to have caused or aggravated his claimed low back disorder.

The veteran's service-connected low back strain with a herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1 has rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen a claim of service connection for hypertension, claimed as secondary to PTSD. Service connection is also granted for a lumbosacral spine disorder, claimed as secondary to PTSD. The evaluation of tinea cruris remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back and head injuries are likely due to incidents during his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's right knee disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease and instability, is currently rated at 20 percent.,His lumbar spine disability, with severe limitation of motion and sciatic neuropathy, is rated at 50 percent since January 23, 2003.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including fatigue, skin rash, headaches, muscle and joint pain, sleep disturbance, memory loss, PTSD, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal problems.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a current chronic low back disorder incurred in service or related to his service-connected epilepsy. The evaluation for his seizure disorder was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a back disorder and also denied an increased rating for his schizophrenia. The evidence submitted since August 1993 did not provide new and material evidence, and the veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and left leg disabilities were incurred during service, resulting in a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar myositis and degenerative disc disease at T12-L1 and L1-2 existed during his active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence to support a finding that the veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was incurred or aggravated during his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current neck and back conditions are not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of right foot, right knee, left ankle, or low back. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an increased rating for his left wrist condition, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic low back disorder in service or continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Board found that the veteran's current joint disorders, including cervical spine and lumbosacral spine conditions, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The medical evidence did not link any chronic back disorder to an incident in service. Service connection for defective vision was also denied.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, which was previously denied in September 1986. The additional evidence supports her contention that she sustained multiple contusions during a motor vehicle accident while on inactive duty training, leading to a chronic low back condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right hip disability and lumbar spine disability, finding that these conditions are related to her service-connected right ankle disability.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased disability rating for service-connected low back strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a low back injury due to new and material evidence, finding that it is as likely as not related to service.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, which is the maximum available under VA regulations.