Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as secondary to the veteran's service-connected bilateral knee injuries.

The Board has granted the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a back disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board found that the shortening of the right leg existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The low back disorder is unrelated to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's back condition, diagnosed as degenerative spondylolisthesis of L5/Sl, is related to his military service and granted service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current low back disability, hypertension, or scoliosis related to service. The veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations prevented the Board from considering these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine disability, which was first manifested in service. The issues of service connection for a heart disorder and headaches as secondary to the lumbar spine disability are addressed on remand.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the December 1988 decision.

The veteran's claims for an increased evaluation and earlier effective date for VA compensation were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show receipt of a claim prior to November 27, 1998, and that the current rating assigned was appropriate.

The Board denied service connection for essential hypertension and a chronic acquired low back disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and left knee patellar tendonitis are related to their active duty service.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder during service and denied the claim as not well grounded.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability, currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded the case due to compliance issues with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The RO denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a left wrist disability, left arm disability (claimed as left tennis elbow), back disability, sub-deltoid bursitis of the left shoulder, and right ankle disability. The RO also granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of both knees with a 10 percent rating.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine to his military service, and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current skin disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are pending further development.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including weight loss, shortness of breath, chronic cough, itchy skin, joint pain and stiffness, short term memory loss, snoring, loss of taste, difficulty speaking, urinary urgency/frequency with incomplete voiding, sinusitis, gum disease, herniated nuclear pulposus (HNP) of the lumbar spine at L4-5, left kidney renal calculi, TMJ disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), epididymal cyst of the right testicle, supravalvular pulmonic arterial stenosis, and right maxillary sinusitis, are all related to his active service. The veteran's claims for secondary service connection have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the veteran and because of VCAA requirements.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from February 9, 1995 to April 28, 1999.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that the pre-existing condition existed prior to service and did not undergo an increase in severity during service.