Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The veteran's multiple complaints of disability were not supported by medical evidence, and his disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining substantial gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a stomach disorder, and lumbosacral strain are not well-grounded. The medical evidence did not demonstrate current disabilities for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ due to service-connected disability, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking his sexual dysfunction to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the veteran was not precluded from doing sedentary work.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic lumbar syndrome and denied his claims for residuals of a left ankle injury, hearing loss, and visual impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a home adaptation grant, finding that his loss of use of one lower extremity and related disabilities did not preclude locomotion without aid of braces, crutches, canes, or wheelchair.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for a circulation disorder, hearing loss, left ear, a bladder disorder, a low back disorder, chronic sinusitis, and otitis media, left ear are not well grounded. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is granted as it was established during active duty.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disorder, as the newly submitted evidence was fundamentally cumulative of previous evidence. The veteran's current low back disability may be related to post-service injuries at work.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability and gastrointestinal disorder secondary to medications taken for a back disorder, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not establish a current disability as a result of an injury sustained during active duty for training in July 1991.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for primary and secondary service connection for his skin disorder, as well as a claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain. The decision also noted that the veteran's plantar calluses of both feet are caused by his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for right leg disability and low back disability, but has determined that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and right hip disorder. The evidence now shows that these conditions are related to the appellant's parachute activities in service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence for his right eye injury claim, but found that he had a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy of the feet related to cold injuries in service. The other claims were not well-grounded.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension on account of the need for aid and attendance of another person or being permanently housebound due to his disabilities, including multiple lumbar diskectomies, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, varicose veins, migraine headaches, and occasional bowel and bladder incontinence. The evidence showed that he was able to attend to personal needs and perform light household chores with assistance.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO found that new evidence did not support reopening the claim for hypertension, and that there was no basis to grant increased ratings for his low back disability or gout.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, making it well grounded. The other issues on appeal will be addressed in the REMAND section.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded, and thus cannot be granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating and service connection for her right knee synovitis and low back disorder were partially granted. Her right knee condition is now rated at 40% disabling, while the low back disorder claim was denied.

The veteran's bladder dysfunction claim is pending and a higher rating for his back disability is also pending. The case has been remanded to the RO for further development.