Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability, including DJD of L5-S1, is well-grounded. The claim for cervical spine disability, including cervical fusion of C4-5, is also well-grounded.,Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee has been rated at 20% since October 1994. No increase in rating was granted for Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee.,The veteran received a temporary total rating based on convalescence due to surgery and one month beyond.

The veteran is currently assigned a 20% evaluation for his low back disability from October 26, 1992 to March 13, 1997.,Since March 13, 1997, the veteran's low back disability has been rated at 10%.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an increased evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that there was no competent evidence linking any current back disability to service. The total rating claim is pending further development.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed back disorder was not incurred or aggravated in active service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for GI and back disorders as not well grounded. The claim for left ear hearing loss was granted with a 10% evaluation effective from September 1997, but initially assigned a zero percent evaluation in February 1991.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial in May 1990.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee and low back disabilities preexisted service, thus rebutting the presumption of soundness. The veteran did not provide clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut this presumption. Therefore, his claims for service connection were denied.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on severe intervertebral disc syndrome or pronounced lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability is productive of no more than severe limitation of motion and severe lumbosacral strain, warranting a maximum 40 percent rating. The claim for an increased evaluation beyond this rating is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a right foot disability, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim for the low back disability. The right foot disability claim is also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current back disorder and his service, concluding that any preexisting condition was not aggravated by service. The claim is therefore denied.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The VA has denied the claims of increased evaluation for anxiety neurosis with psychotic features, service connection for prostate cancer with metastases, low back disorder, and headaches. The appellant's psychiatric condition is rated at 30 percent under the schedular criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his sinus disorder, low back strain, right knee pain syndrome, and left knee pain syndrome are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis or other service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and a compensable evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the mandible, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear and skin disabilities, as well as applications to reopen claims of service connection for back, neck, and shoulder disabilities. The claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a back disability caused or aggravated by a myelogram performed in 1966 was also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, left knee disability, and low back disability are denied as not well grounded. The claim for increased rating of right knee disability is also denied.

The Board has granted a compensable evaluation of 10% for the veteran's dermatological condition of the back and chest, bilateral foot condition (calluses), and low back pain/strain. The claim for obstructive pulmonary disease remains unchanged as it was not rated.

The veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently productive of not more than severe limitation of motion, and does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.