Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that the medical evidence did not establish a link between his current condition and active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for left knee injury with degenerative joint disease. The veteran's claims folder must be made available to the examiner.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disorders are not well-grounded.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right hip, and right leg disabilities due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to his military service, including two isolated complaints of back pain during service. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of claims for service connection for right ankle disorder, low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, right wrist disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the veteran's head injury with residual headaches and denied a compensable rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to February 2000. The claim for service connection for bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees remains on appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne, low back disability, fungus of the left big toenail, folliculitis of both inner thighs, and hypertension. The veteran is not entitled to any compensation for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an eye disability, a back disability, and burns or burn scars of the legs as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gout was incurred in service and his arthritis of the lumbar spine warrants a reduced rating from 40% to 20%, effective December 1998.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability, which includes laminectomy syndrome and degenerative disc disease, does not warrant a rating higher than the current 60 percent. The evidence shows significant functional impairment but no ankylosis or other conditions that would justify a higher rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spines, third degree burn scars of the left hand, forearm, and flank, as well as second degree burn scars. The effective dates for these decisions are not specified.

The Board found that the appellant's current low back disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, the highest available under VA rating criteria. His bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a low back disorder, finding that there is no evidence of chronic disabilities in service or linking current conditions to service.

The veteran's low back disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to March 9, 1999 and increased to 40 percent effective March 9, 1999.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for traumatic arthritis of L2-3 with degenerative disc disease and lumbar radiculitis since August 1998, effective from that date.

The veteran's claim for a low back disability was denied as there is no chronic low back disability present in service or for many years after service. The claim for a compensable evaluation for his right thigh neuropathy was also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized private medical expenses incurred during his hospitalization from May 24 to May 28, 1993 due to a low backache with right lower extremity pain. The appeal is based on service-connected tinnitus and not related to any other condition.