Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current back disability, manifested by pain, muscle cramping and numbness, is proximately due to his service-connected left hip disability. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine and a 30 percent rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), effective from January 1996. The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from January 1996 to April 1998, and at 100 percent beginning in April 1998.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic acquired disorder of the right knee as secondary to service-connected DJD of the left knee with PO valgus osteotomy and total knee replacement, and for a back disorder also as secondary to this same condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected pes planus did not cause his low back condition. The case is now remanded for further development to determine if the veteran's service-connected pes planus aggravated his low back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left elbow, lumbosacral spine (neck), cervical spine, right hand, and both shoulders. The issues raised were whether new and material evidence had been presented to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for these conditions, as well as his claim for service connection for arthritis of the left hand and left foot.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of the cost of unauthorized medical services is granted as he was treated at a private hospital due to an emergency cardiac condition, and no VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back pain cannot be disassociated from complaints and findings noted during service, granting service connection for moderate lumbar desiccation with low back pain.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence showing an injury or disease during active duty training (ACDUTRA). The appellant did not establish veteran status, and thus his claim is denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition and low back disorder. The decision found no evidence of current disabilities, and that any potential exposure to radiation was not related to his period of service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and psychiatric disabilities, but denied them on the merits. The evidence shows that the veteran had symptoms of a low back disability during service, including pain radiating into his legs, but there is no clear link to service. His current condition may be related to multiple motor vehicle accidents rather than service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle condition, bilateral knee condition, back condition, and alopecia were all denied. The RO found no current evidence of these conditions related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting right hand burn residuals were aggravated by active military duty, and granted service connection for this condition. The initial evaluation for degenerative disc disease with disc herniation at L4-L5 level was granted at a 60 percent rating. The claim for an increased evaluation for chondromalacia of the right knee was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a low back disorder, as well as his request for an increased evaluation for asthma. The reasons given include that the veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability more nearly approximates a 40 percent evaluation, but denied an increased rating. The thoracic spine disability was assigned a noncompensable (0 percent) rating.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's low back disability, which is the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5293.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his low back disability was denied by the Board. The evidence showed that he had moderate limitation of motion, but not more than this.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of hands, impotence, low back pain, residuals of fracture of right forearm, and tinnitus. The claims were found not well-grounded due to a lack of current medical evidence supporting these diagnoses.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current back pain to his service, specifically noting that he experienced back pain in service but did not establish a link between this past injury and his current condition. As such, the claim was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability was not incurred as a result of his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for his lumbar strain and myositis, service connection for PTSD, and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The current 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's lumbar spine condition is appropriate.