Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and chronic lumbar syndrome, as well as initial compensable evaluations for chondromalacia patella of both knees. The 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, noncompensable, service-connected disabilities was confirmed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability secondary to his right total knee arthroplasty and an increased evaluation for residuals of that surgery. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim or for a higher rating.

The Board denied restoration of the 60 percent disability rating for the service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, denied an increased evaluation for bilateral tinnitus, and denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the low back, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, secondary to a service-connected disability are well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back injury, and right leg injury are not well-grounded because there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to an incident of service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for headaches and lumbosacral strain, as well as a claim for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The veteran's claims were found not to meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant an increased evaluation or assignment of a higher initial disability rating.

The Board has determined that a well-grounded claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been presented and has granted this claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and hearing loss, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a back disability. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence linking the current hearing loss to service.

The veteran's disabilities, including a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spondylosis, degenerative arthritis of the knees, hemorrhoids, COPD, and glaucoma, meet the criteria for a combined rating of 70 percent. The veteran is therefore considered unemployable due to her disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disorder with sciatic paresthetica, residuals of a mallet avulsion fracture of the left ring finger, and residuals of a fracture of the distal phalanx, right middle finger were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected low back pain with herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-5, currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's low back condition is service-connected, stemming from an in-service injury.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder, manifested by pain and limited motion without significant pathology, did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his limited use of his left upper extremity and right hand, despite having some loss of use in his left lower extremity.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with left shoulder radiculopathy and thoracic outlet syndrome, finding that his symptoms are most accurately characterized by the criteria set forth for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and cervical spine disorders are service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the veteran.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant did not file a timely substantive appeal from the September 1992 rating decision that denied his application for an increased rating for service-connected low back derangement.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability, diagnosed as spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, L1-2, and anterior wedging of T12-L1, is currently rated at 30 percent. The condition causes constant, occasionally sharp lumbar pain requiring medication for relief, right paralumbar tenderness, and moderate limitation of motion affected by pain.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings and effective dates related to his service-connected conditions has been granted by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.