Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are not well grounded, as there is no competent medical evidence linking these disabilities to his period of active service.

The veteran's disabilities, when considered in combination, result in his inability to care for some of his daily personal needs without regular personal assistance from his spouse. The veteran is not shown to be substantial confined to his dwelling or immediate premises as a result of disabilities.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current left knee disorder, right knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, or cervical spine disorder to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is related to his service, including complaints and treatment of back problems during service. As a result, service connection for a chronic low back disability is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and residuals of recurrent pneumonia to include a respiratory disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied an increased rating for the appellant's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the second cervical vertebra, currently rated at 10 percent. The primary manifestations are degenerative changes and arthritis in the cervical spine.

The Board found that the appellant's lumbar disc disease did not warrant a higher rating, and denied service connection for a cervical spine disability due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service or being related to his service-connected lumbar disc disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, finding that there was no competent evidence linking his current disability to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left hip disability warrants a 30 percent evaluation, and his lumbar spine disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for residuals of tuberculosis of the lumbar spine, finding no evidence of active disease and noting that the veteran's current degenerative disc disease does not relate to his service-connected tuberculosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for chondrosis of the right knee, and entitlement to a compensable rating for mechanical low back pain.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of shell fragment wounds to the face, skin disorder including epidermal cysts and lipoma due to Agent Orange exposure, left shoulder disability, back disability secondary to service connected residuals of shell fragment wounds to the left knee and upper leg, arthritis secondary to service connected residuals of shell fragment wounds to the left knee and upper leg, and residuals of a left hand injury. The Board also denied an increased rating for the residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left knee and upper leg.

The veteran's low back disorder is rated at 60 percent disabling, and his conversion reaction is rated at 30 percent prior to May 28, 1997, and not higher after that date.

The Board denied the claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability as the veteran did not return the formal application form and provide necessary information.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for multiple disabilities of the spine, including degenerative disc disease, and an increased evaluation for his service-connected low back disability. The Board found no causal relationship between the veteran's current spinal conditions and his service-connected fracture residuals.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for direct service connection and secondary service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, hips, and shoulders are not well grounded. The claim for increased rating on an extraschedular basis for residuals of a gunshot wound to Muscle Group VII of the left forearm is denied as it does not meet the criteria for such a rating. The veteran's claim for separate compensable rating for scars from his gunshot wound to the left forearm is granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an increased rating for his post-operative pilonidal cyst and service connection for a back condition, including arthritis. The appellant was not granted any new disability ratings or benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's mechanical low back pain warranted a rating of 20 percent effective from March 26, 1996. Prior to this date, the evidence showed muscle spasm without limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.