Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability on either a direct or secondary basis.

The veteran's claims for service connection for lung disorder, skin disorder, stomach disorder, and back disorder were denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the skin disorder claim was not addressed properly by the RO. The veteran's PTSD claim was granted with an opportunity to appeal the initial evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 40 percent, as there is no evidence of complete fixation of the spine or pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, finding no medical evidence linking his current conditions to service.

The Board has not reopened the claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence. The veteran's low back, right hand, left shoulder, and bronchitis disabilities are all considered well grounded but have not been granted service connection.

The veteran's appeal is for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disorder, currently rated at 20 percent. The RO has requested additional medical records and ordered a VA examination to assess the severity of the condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back injury and an increased evaluation for PTSD, finding that new evidence did not reopen his previously denied claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and a low back disability, finding no evidence of aggravation or in-service injury that would support these claims.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected low back disability and determined that the effective date for TDIU should be January 12, 1998. The veteran was not granted a higher rating for his low back condition, which remained at 40 percent disabling. For TDIU, the Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria due to having multiple service-connected disabilities with combined ratings of less than 70%.

The veteran's initial ratings for chronic lumbar back pain with degenerative changes and status post fracture, chronic right foot pain have been granted at the maximum available evaluations. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities were not well-grounded, as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for both the back injury and adjustment disorder, finding that neither condition warranted a higher rating under current criteria.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for PTSD and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes based on nonservice-connected disabilities was also denied.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from June 14 to June 21, 1995 were denied as the VA determined that his condition had stabilized by June 13, 1995 and he could have been transferred to a VAMC for continued care.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of L4-5 with right hip pain, which is the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5293.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine disability and right mandible fracture, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have well-grounded claims for service connection for various shoulder, knee, neck, and back disorders. The claims are denied.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of unauthorized private hospital care is denied because the VA medical facilities were feasibly available and her transfer would not have been hazardous to her life or health.

The Board denied both claims for service connection due to a lack of competent evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of low back disability, service connection for cervical spine DJD and DDD, and separate service connection for scoliosis of the low back were denied. The RO found no evidence linking current disabilities to service.