Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee. The current ratings are at their maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, back, and hip disabilities are not well-grounded because there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a nexus between his service-connected left knee disability and these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for a right foot disability and low back disability are not well-grounded. The evidence does not establish current diagnoses or show a nexus between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a back condition secondary to his left knee disability. However, it was determined that the back injury is not proximately due to or aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability. The rating for residuals of arthrotomy of the left knee with traumatic arthritis remains at 20 percent. The temporary total rating based on hospitalization from June 21 to August 2, 1990, was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and low back disorder, as well as his increased ratings for cervical spine arthritis and chronic sinusitis. The decision also noted that VA had satisfied its obligation to assist in developing evidence relevant to these claims.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, currently evaluated at 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for polysubstance abuse and residuals of low back injuries, finding that the veteran's claims were not well-grounded due to his alcohol/drug abuse.

The veteran's low back disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder. The other claims are pending and will require further development.

The RO denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbo-thoracic fasciitis, currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for dysmenorrhea, tension headaches, sinusitis, bursitis of the right deltoid, a stomach disorder (claimed as gastroenteritis), and low back strain are not well-grounded.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding no objective medical evidence to substantiate that he currently has residuals of an injury incurred during his period of active duty training.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking any of the veteran's claimed conditions to service, and thus his claims for service connection are denied.

The Board found that the appellant's left-ear defective hearing is related to in-service noise exposure. However, it did not establish service connection for right-ear defective hearing, tinnitus, a back disorder, dizziness and blackouts, weakness of the right arm and leg, rash of the feet, or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the right leg (including a neural sheath tumor).

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative changes of the lower lumbar spine.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective October 3, 1997.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability and found that new and material evidence has been submitted. The issue is now on its merits, with the Board finding that the low back disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has ordered the case remanded for further development, including a personal hearing and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's back disability.

The veteran's post-cholecystectomy syndrome is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the evidence does not show that it is productive of severe symptoms.,The veteran's cervical spine disorder is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the evidence does not show that it is productive of severe limitation of motion or ankylosis.,The veteran's lumbar spine disorder is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the evidence does not show that it is productive of severe limitation of motion, ankylosis, or severe lumbosacral strain.

Service connection is denied for a right hip disorder, a left knee disorder, and a cervical spine disorder as these conditions are not causally related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the veteran did not timely submit a substantive appeal for his claim of service connection for a back disability.