Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board finds that the criteria for a rating of 10 percent, but no higher, are met for the veteran's disability from right knee degenerative joint disease status post reconstructive and arthroscopic surgeries, residuals of left ankle sprain, and degenerative disc disease at L5-S1.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability and determined that it is well-grounded. The case is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a low back condition is not well grounded, and therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability as secondary to his service-connected left thigh disability and an increased rating for his gunshot wound of the left thigh. The evidence did not support a finding that the low back disability was proximately due to or the result of the service-connected left thigh disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his period of service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of L5- S1, but denied service connection for diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and other back conditions. Service connection was also denied for nasopharyngitis and sinusitis as well as bilateral ear disability including hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder. The veteran is also awarded a 10% evaluation for his service-connected left great toe fracture with ankylosis, but no compensation is granted for his service-connected nasal bone fracture.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spondylosis at the C3-4 and C4-5 levels is currently rated as 30 percent disabling due to moderate limitation of motion, pain, and fatigue. The lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes is currently rated as 10 percent disabling due to slight limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disability, back disability, left hand disability, and rheumatic heart disease are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back condition due to new evidence showing arthritis at L5-S1 level. However, the claim remains not well grounded as there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current back, lung, or skin disorders to his active service. The claims for service connection were therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss disability were not well grounded, as there was no evidence of a nexus between any inservice problems and the current disabilities.

The Board finds that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with spinal canal stenosis at L4-5 and radicular pain of both legs is due to an in-service automobile accident, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic low back disability and tinnitus as they are not well-grounded.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and duodenal ulcer, with irritable colon, were denied as the current evaluations are considered appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board finds that the veteran's disability is most appropriately evaluated as lumbosacral strain under Code 5295, and no higher rating can be granted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder and arthritis, finding no competent evidence relating these conditions to his period of active service.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since February 17, 2000. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period. Service connection for back and bilateral knee disabilities was granted.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and an initial compensable rating for post-operative residuals of a left inguinal hernia due to his failure to respond to VA requests for information and evidence.