Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder. The claim is well-grounded, but further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating for hypertension with sporadic premature ventricular contractions. The issues of low back disability, deviated nasal septum, rhinitis with enlarged turbinates, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease were also addressed but are pending further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for jungle rot of the feet and residuals of a spinal injury are not well-grounded as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left lumbar region do not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the currently assigned 20 percent rating.

The Board has found that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and sinus disorder are well grounded. The case is now being remanded to determine if peptic ulcer disease had its onset during or within one year following service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, but finds that there is no medical evidence linking the current low back disability to service.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against the current assignment of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claims of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right carpal tunnel syndrome, and compensable evaluations for hemorrhoids, chronic low back strain with early degenerative changes, and Crohn's disease and hiatal hernia with chest pain are denied.

The claim of entitlement to service connection on a secondary basis for low back disability manifested by sciatica is denied.

The September 1982 RO rating decision denying service connection for low back disability was upheld as not containing clear and unmistakable error.,The veteran's claim of cervical spine disability due to VA surgical treatment on December 20, 1990 is denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, stating that no evidence showed any service-connected disability contributed to his death.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the requirements for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes as they do not render it impossible for the average person to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder, as well as his claims for cold injury residuals of both lower extremities and gunshot wound residuals of the left wrist.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder and psychiatric disorder are not well grounded claims, as there is no competent medical evidence showing a direct relationship to service.

The veteran's Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the knees and osteoarthritis of the right shoulder are not service-connected, while his degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is rated at a 10% disability level.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not well-grounded, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or post-service treatment related to these conditions.

The Board finds that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, bilateral shoulder disability and PTSD are not well-grounded.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of sufficient severity to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for mid-back and low-back disorders is not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking a current disorder to service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a neck or back condition during service and no current disability linked to service. Therefore, the veteran's claims for service connection are denied.