Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and back disability are all service-connected. These conditions were incurred during his period of active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder and left knee disorder are not related to his military service. The claim for a low back disorder is denied, while the claim for a left knee disorder remains closed as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected lumbar fusion at L5 and S1 was granted, with a rating of 100 percent on an extraschedular basis due to the severity of his disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a back disorder are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and either service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted a higher initial evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease, L4-L5, with bulging disc at L5-S1 and a small herniated disc at levels L4-L5 with mild spinal stenosis.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, currently rated at 40 percent.

The veteran's TDIU was granted effective March 16, 2000. The RO found that the veteran had met the schedular criteria for consideration of a TDIU claim and there was evidence of current service-connected unemployability in his claims file.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 30, 1990 for his award of total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability. The evidence did not show any factor outside the usual that would support a basis for TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a low back disorder, finding no new and material evidence. The decision is based on the lack of direct or secondary evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition and prostate condition are not well grounded, as there is no evidence of chronic conditions in service or during an applicable period. The current disabilities do not have a clear link to the inservice complaints.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a rash and sinusitis, as well as his requests for higher evaluations for left and right elbow disabilities and hearing loss disability in the left ear. The appeal was dismissed due to an inadequate substantive appeal.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected thoraco-lumbar strain and left ankle strain, finding that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded and have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right thigh and buttock warrant an increased evaluation of 30 percent, with separate evaluations for tender scars.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the spine, as well as an increased evaluation for thrombophlebitis of the left lower extremity, are not supported by evidence showing a plausible or substantiable claim. The veteran's conditions have been found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left femoral cutaneous neuropathy and service connection for a left knee disability and low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of these claims.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and low back disorders in January 1984. The veteran's claims were subsequently addressed, but no final decision was issued regarding the issues of entitlement to a total evaluation based on individual unemployability, service connection for a left shoulder disability, or compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left shoulder injury. As such, attorney fees from past-due benefits awarded in April 2000 are denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not warrant an increased disability evaluation for lumbosacral strain, status post laminectomy or tinea pedis. The combined effect of these conditions does not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability was aggravated by service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded and requires further development of evidence.