Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent, and his residuals of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder with small fracture of the acromion are also rated at 10 percent. The appeal involves both service connection issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of both knees and arthritis of right shoulder and low back, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board denied restoration of a 40 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence demonstrated improvement and was consistent with prior examinations.

The veteran's appeal regarding an increased evaluation for chondromalacia of the left knee is dismissed. The issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of fracture of the coccyx and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine are deferred until additional records can be obtained.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently manifested by moderate impairment, warranting a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for arthritis of the lumbar spine effective September 7, 1999. Prior to that date, the veteran's disability was rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no competent evidence to support a nexus to service.

The VA determined that the appellant's service-connected low back disorder, manifested by moderate degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with no more than moderate limitation of motion, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's service-connected low back condition, rated at 40 percent disabling, does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his other employment history and current ability to engage in substantial gainful activity.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and did not address the claim of residuals of chest contusion, as it was previously denied. The case is reopened for the claim of residuals of chest contusion.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded and denied them.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disability and an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have been denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of a left elbow disability, and there is insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between the current back disability and service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including multiple sclerosis, prevented him from obtaining gainful employment and granted basic eligibility for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's current back disability to service, and thus denied his claim.

The veteran's request for an increased rating and a temporary total rating after November 30, 1997 based on post-surgical convalescence was denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, finding that there was no competent evidence linking current diagnoses to an inservice injury.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with the residuals of a fracture of the left distal fibula rated at 20 percent, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine rated at 10 percent, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the veteran's lumbar spine fusion at L5-S1 with radiculopathy, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder of multiple joints manifested by pain is well-grounded. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.