Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and pulmonary disorder due to an undiagnosed illness as a result of service in the Southwest Asian Theater. The appeals for chronic fatigue and arthralgia are considered well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected low back strain with arthritis, bronchitis with mild pulmonary emphysema, and residuals of pharyngeal papilloma. The current ratings are 20 percent for low back strain with arthritis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for secondary service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and increased ratings for his foot disabilities due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a low back disability secondary to service-connected right knee disability is not well grounded and therefore denied.

The veteran's low back and left hip disabilities are not service-connected, as they did not result from VA hospital, medical or surgical treatment. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to legal provisions that need to be considered.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition to service. Service connection was granted for lumbar disc disease, with a presumption that it is related to the veteran's in-service back injury and subsequent automobile accident.

The veteran's claim for service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine with herniated disc was granted effective from August 17, 1992. The RO also increased his disability rating to 60 percent for this condition as of that date.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disorder and found it well grounded. The veteran's current low back disorder is related to his military service, and he also contends that his nervous disorder with depression, sleep disorder, indigestion, and motion sickness are all related to this back problem.

The Board denied the appellant's request for additional vocational rehabilitation training after he was declared 'rehabilitated' because his service-connected disabilities have not worsened to the extent that they prevent him from performing his previous occupation as a case worker, and his current employment is suitable.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for osteoarthritis, lumbar spine.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, finding that the veteran's back condition began during service. The secondary service connection claims for right ankle and right foot conditions are denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The claim for a psychiatric disorder was reopened, but the new evidence did not establish service connection. Claims for lung, low back, hearing loss, tinnitus, irritable bowel syndrome, and carbon tetrachloride exposure were also denied.

The Board found that the appellant's current foot and back disorders are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of a connection between his in-service injury and his present disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder during service or within one year after discharge, and concluded that the current condition is not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran died by suicide in July 1993. The cause of death is not service-connected, and the appellant cannot establish eligibility for dependents' educational assistance under Chapter 35.

The veteran's mechanical low back pain is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum available under the rating schedule. The RO has granted service connection for this condition.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic low back disability warrants a 40 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5292, based on severe limitation of motion and associated pain.

The veteran's DJD of the lumbosacral spine with pain on motion and X-ray involvement of the thoracic spine was rated at 10 percent prior to October 28, 1998.,From October 28, 1998, the veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine with limitation of motion is rated at 20 percent.,The veteran's DJD of the thoracic spine remains rated at 10 percent.