Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board has found that the veteran's back disability is causally related to incidents of combat service and grants service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis at L3-L4 and L4-L5.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the assertions of a back disability due to ankle disabilities or any other disease or injury in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability, which will now be considered on its merits.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's degenerative disc disease, finding that it is as likely as not related to an injury sustained during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability (degenerative disc disease of L4-L5) effective from June 20, 1981. The veteran's claim was pending and unadjudicated until the RO ultimately granted service connection in March 1998.

The Board has restored a 40% rating for the veteran's postoperative lumbosacral disc disease, finding that reduction was not proper. The propriety of reducing the rating for the surgical scar remains under consideration.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for it.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board determined that the veteran's back disorder, indicated as spondylolysis and Scheuermann's disease, clearly preexisted service. The Board also found that his current low back disability was incurred or aggravated in service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a back disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disease of the lumbar spine is causally related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence to support a finding that the veteran's current low back disorder began during or is causally related to his period of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for disability of the muscles of the right front of the neck as secondary to the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shrapnel wound to the right shoulder. The Board also found that degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis are not related to the service-connected injury.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation to 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, which is the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5293.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder or panic disorder to her service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disability is not service-connected, as it did not manifest within one year of his separation from active duty and there is no evidence linking it to his military service or any other relevant factor.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right ankle disability related to service and his lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, but there is no evidence of any new or material evidence to reopen the claim. The appeal for an increased rating remains denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current cervical spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, is related to his service-connected lumbar spine condition and granted service connection for this secondary disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is not caused or worsened by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The veteran's claims for residuals of shrapnel wound to the left kidney, degenerative disc disease with arthritis in the lumbar spine, and arthritis of joints other than the lumbar spine are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for recurrent fever is also not reopened.