Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The VA has determined that the veteran's sacralization of the 5th lumbar vertebra with back pain does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation, but granted a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence following his December 9-20, 1991 hospitalization.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for secondary service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, right hip and low back disabilities are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of causation or aggravation by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected low back disability warranted a 20 percent evaluation from May 14, 1997 to July 6, 1998. For the period prior to May 14, 1997 and since May 20, 1999, the veteran's service-connected low back disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found the veteran's claim of service connection for back disability not well grounded and denied it.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection for a low back disability, finding that January 22, 1990 was the proper effective date based on receipt of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities have been granted, with the exception of the evaluation for coronary artery disease. The left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are each rated at 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively, effective from June 26, 1995. The veteran's lateral epicondylitis of the right elbow is rated at 10 percent, sinusitis at 10 percent, left knee disorder at direct service connection, low back disorder at direct service connection, and gastritis at direct service connection.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of a headache disorder. The claims for back disorder and temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome were denied as well.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to a documented upper back injury in service or otherwise linking it to service. Therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, emphysema, and unstable angina. The denial is based on the lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to an in-service injury or exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no competent evidence linking any injury or event during service to his current condition.

The Board has reopened your claim for service connection due to the submission of new evidence that supports a relationship between your current low back disorder and an inservice injury. Your claim is now reviewed on its merits.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar disc disease, finding no evidence of a chronic disability in service and insufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic low lumbar strain syndrome and cervical spine sprain syndrome, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for compression fracture of T5, 6, and 7. The veteran failed to provide competent medical evidence linking his current disabilities to his period of active military service.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 60 percent, and his migrainoid headaches are rated at 10 percent. The Board has granted the increased rating for the low back condition but denied the request for an increase in the rating for the migrainoid headaches.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for osteoporosis of the lumbar and dorsal spine, effective from when the claim was filed.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current back disability, varices of the left thigh, or gum disease to include bleeding gums. The claims for service connection in these areas are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and low back disability, finding them not well-grounded.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected psoriasis/seborrheic dermatitis with multiple joint arthralgia and chronic lumbosacral strain with low back pain.