Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical evidence showing a current disability and no in-service injury or condition that could be linked to his claimed conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shin splints, a low back disability, a left leg disability as secondary to a low back disability, eczema (skin disorder), a right wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not submit competent evidence to show plausible claims for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claims for service connection for a back disorder, nervous condition, and skin disorder due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. However, these claims are not well-grounded as they do not demonstrate that the claimed conditions were incurred in or aggravated during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability due to lack of evidence linking any current condition to her active duty service.

The Board has ordered additional VA medical records to be obtained as they may contain relevant information about the veteran's low back disorder. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and for increased initial evaluations of his low back, left thumb, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back strain does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent, and his frostbite condition is currently evaluated as noncompensable.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, elbow, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with left leg radiculopathy. However, the evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and evaluation of the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ulnar nerve injury and scars. The claims of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen various claims have also been addressed.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including chronic lumbosacral strain and chronic bronchitis with pneumonia, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking his current degenerative disc disease to an in-service lumbar strain.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back condition is related to his service and granted service connection for this disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, urinary tract infection, and sore throat are not well-grounded. The medical evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has determined that a rating of 20 percent for service-connected mid and low back strain prior to August 1, 1996 is warranted. A separate rating was not granted as the evidence did not demonstrate more than mild actual or functional loss of range of motion of the dorsal spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as schizophrenia, is well grounded. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between her current back disability and treatment during active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability and finds it well-grounded. The evidence submitted since the last final denial is new and material, relating current low back disability to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected hip and spine disabilities. The RO will consider all applicable rating criteria during adjudication.

The veteran's low back disorder with lumbar disc disease and traumatic arthritis is rated at 40 percent, effective from December 3, 1997. The head injury residuals are rated at 10 percent.