Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain was not well-grounded due to a lack of evidence linking his current diagnosis to an inservice injury or symptomatology.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder warranted a 10% evaluation, but denied his claim for an increased rating. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is pending and requires further investigation.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left hip, and low back disabilities due to the veteran's congenital or developmental defects that existed prior to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a neck injury is not well grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking current cervical spine disability to any inservice disease or injury.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine warrants a disability rating of 20 percent, effective June 1995. The current condition is characterized by forward flexion to 62 degrees and other limitations in motion.

The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain, resulting in a grant of service connection.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain effective from November 18, 1999.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to his military service, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not well-grounded. The Board found that the scar in the right axillary area is residual to a surgical excision of an underarm growth incurred during wartime service, and granted service connection for this condition. However, the other claims for service connection were not well-grounded.

The veteran has withdrawn all issues currently on appeal, including the requests for increased evaluations and a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine disability with right shoulder pain, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain. The reasons are that there is no competent medical evidence linking any current disabilities to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's compression fracture and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, or his cervical disc disease, to service. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board found the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder not well grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking his current condition to service, including a fall in 1971. The claim was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and a back disorder, finding that his claim was not well-grounded. The right knee disability claim is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disability is service-connected due to injury sustained during active duty. However, there is insufficient evidence linking his current lumbosacral spine disability to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for strain of the paravertebral lumbar muscles on the right and degenerative joint disease with joint space narrowing at C4-5, C5-6 and C6-7 are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and his period of active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disorder and did not reopen his claim for low back disorder.

The veteran's claims of service connection for jungle rot, peripheral vascular disease, bilateral elbow disability, hip disability, and low back disability are denied as not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of L4-L5 and L5-S1 is service-connected, but his anxiety disorder and cognitive disorder are not. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.