Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2001

The veteran's disability of degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was granted a 20 percent evaluation, which is above the requested excess over 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board finds that an effective date of May 12, 1995 is warranted for a 20 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's low back disability. The criteria for a 20 percent rating were met on this date.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating and extraschedular evaluation for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and clarifying the type of Board hearing he desires.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes was granted, but he is still seeking a rating higher than 20 percent.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with traumatic degenerative changes is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 60 percent based on the severity of her condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the veteran's current back disability, including arthritis, is related to a service injury and whether there is sufficient evidence of record to grant service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if any diagnosed disc disease and/or wedging compression fractures at T12 and L1 are part of the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, and whether his subjective complaints of numbness and 'pins and needles' sensation are attributable to his service-connected degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to changes in the law and incomplete information.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple joint arthritis due to Reiter's disease and assigned a 10 percent disability rating. The veteran's claim for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine and conjunctivitis was also granted.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective from the date of this decision. The combined rating of all disabilities is now at least 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The veteran's low back disability was initially rated at 20 percent and later increased to 40 percent. The decision grants the higher rating since June 7, 1996.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examinations.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim, but concluded that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for left nephrectomy or lower back disorder.

The veteran's lower back pain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent disabling effective January 10, 2001. Prior to that date, the disability was rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's lower back pain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent disabling effective January 10, 2001. Prior to that date, the disability was rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining Tuskegee VAMC outpatient treatment records and VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied by the RO. The case is being remanded for further development and examination.