Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of arthritis of the shoulders and increased disability evaluations for his service-connected sinusitis and lumbar strain with mild degenerative changes. The Board found no evidence of arthritis in either shoulder during active duty or within one year post-service, and concluded that any current arthritis is not related to service.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and cerebral hemorrhage as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral disc disease and strain, and denied entitlement to TDIU.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with arthritis of the low back was denied, and his claim for service connection for a lung condition was also denied.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current back disorder to her active service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and a back disorder are not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active military service. The claim for secondary service connection for legs and feet condition due to exposure to ionizing radiation also lacks sufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's lumbar strain, chondromalacia patellae (bilateral), residuals of right ankle sprain, and flat feet. The RO assigned a 10 percent evaluation to each condition effective from July 1996.

The veteran's lower back disorder and lump on the left calf were found to have onset in service, warranting service connection for these conditions. The veteran was granted a disability rating of 100% for his degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability, including due to service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound of the right lower leg.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, a 20 percent evaluation for residuals of a back injury, and a 10 percent evaluation for residuals of a left shoulder injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back, headaches, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorders were not related to his military service and denied his claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, but his attempt to reopen a back disability claim was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have a disability of the cervical spine, including degenerative disc disease with herniated nucleus pulposus at C4-C5. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected arthritis of multiple joints with bilateral total knee replacement contributed substantially to cause his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired low back disorder is service-connected, and his claim for a respiratory disorder to include allergies is well-grounded.

The veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder and degenerative arthritis of the back and knee, which have rendered him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are well-grounded, but have not met the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable VA rating schedule. The claim for reopening his back disability is denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted.

The Board found that the appellant's claims for service connection were not well grounded, and thus denied them.

The veteran's service-connected hypertension is granted with a 10 percent rating.