Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for back disability, left knee disability, and increased evaluations for the service-connected disabilities. The veteran's claims of right knee disability were not supported by competent evidence showing that they are plausible or capable of substantiation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, right ear infection, bilateral hip disabilities, bilateral leg disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities are not well-grounded. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current conditions and his military service, including his service in the Persian Gulf War. The claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 20 percent since May 5, 1999. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as noncompensable.

The Board finds that there is competent medical evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and service, thus finding the claim well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a liver disorder and a lumbosacral spine disorder, as well as his claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board finds that the veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the establishment of service connection for a back disability is granted, with the effective date being April 25, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that his condition only warrants a 20 percent rating based on mild to moderate limitation of spinal motion.

The Board found that the veteran's back disability did not worsen during her active duty service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, headache disorder, hypertension, and left knee disorder are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service disease or injury leading to these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected. The claims for prostate disorder, kidney stones, and back disorder are not well-grounded as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to an incident of service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support service connection for the claimed disabilities, including arthritis of the right shoulder, low back, cervical spine, and both knees. The gout of the right foot was not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back condition with left hip and leg sciatica, as well as diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and left hip piriformis syndrome, as well as an increased evaluation for adjustment disorder secondary to history of assault. The claims were found not well grounded.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The evidence shows that the veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his service-connected right knee disorder, causing him to favor his left leg and resulting in low back pain.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO scheduled the veteran for VA examinations, but he failed to report without good cause.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is related to an injury during his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board determined that the veteran's low back disorder with a herniated nucleus pulposus does not meet or approximate the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.