Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's current low back, right knee, and right hip disorders are not related to his period of active service or his residuals of a right great toe fracture. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied as not well-grounded.

The Board denied an increase in the evaluation for service-connected mechanical low back pain and a compensable evaluation for service-connected residuals of a nasal fracture, both from their initial grants of service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increase in his 10 percent rating for a low back disability was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability evaluation for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and denied a compensable disability evaluation for metatarsal calluses of the left foot.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with spondylolisthesis and L5-S1 herniated intravertebral disc as secondary to her service-connected left ankle disability. The claim of entitlement to increased evaluation for residuals of a left ankle sprain is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left lower extremity disability and for an increased rating for her right ankle disability. The right ankle disability is currently rated at 40%.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected hiatal hernia, effective from January 18, 1997. The veteran is also entitled to a compensable rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and residuals of a fracture of the right ankle.

The Board denied the veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the new evidence submitted did not establish a new factual basis warranting service connection.

The veteran's service-connected gouty arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have been rated based on their respective disabilities, with some separate evaluations for different parts of his body. The overall evaluation remains at 70 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The veteran is granted a 40 percent evaluation for low back disability, effective from January 5, 1995.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to July 31, 1996 and denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and narrowing of the joint space at L2 - L3.

The veteran's claims for service connection for back and bilateral knee disabilities are not well-grounded, as there is no evidence of current disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's postoperative low back disability is not service-connected, as there is no evidence to support a link between his in-service injury and the current condition.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the issuance of a final decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, incisional ventral hernia, and gastrointestinal disability. The veteran was not granted any higher ratings under the applicable criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disability and back disability are not well-grounded, as there is no evidence of a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of shrapnel wounds to the thoraco-lumbar spine and right thoracic area are currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for these conditions. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted as there is no evidence of more than moderate impairment in either muscle group.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the initial 50 percent evaluation assigned for PTSD was proper.

The Board denied service connection for depression and right upper extremity disorder (carpal tunnel syndrome) in March 1990. The veteran's claim for service connection for a right upper extremity disorder characterized as carpal tunnel syndrome is reopened, but the claim remains denied due to lack of evidence linking current disability to service.