Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2001

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and to provide a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current low back disability is related to service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues was denied. The cervical spine fracture at C3-4 is rated as noncompensable, and the veteran's other claims were not well-grounded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the severity of the veteran's lumbosacral sprain and to provide an opinion on the etiology of any cervical spine disorder found.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar disc disease warrants a 40 percent evaluation, and his postoperative residuals of a left knee medial meniscus tear warrant a 20 percent evaluation. The TDIU issue is also granted.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder, specifically a disk herniation at L4-5. The appeal is based on evidence showing that the veteran had pain and muscle spasms in his lower back during service, which was diagnosed as low back pain. Post-service medical records confirmed the presence of a narrow intervertebral disk space at L4-L5.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of the veteran's low back disability and left shoulder condition. The veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable evaluation will be reconsidered.

The Board granted an increased evaluation for the appellant's back disorder to 60 percent, effective February 8, 1993. The TDIU rating was granted with an effective date of August 21, 1998.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's low back strain with history of displacement of coccyx, finding that a rating in excess of 40 percent was not warranted based on the evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain warrants a 20 percent evaluation, which is higher than what he was previously granted. The disability currently manifests as pain, some limitation of motion, narrowing of disc space at L-5/S-1 on X-ray, and osteophyte formation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for visual impairment and low back disorder due to exposure to ionizing radiation and biological/chemical warfare agents were denied. The RO also determined that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the reinstatement of his compensation benefits was denied as there is no legal basis to award such a date prior to June 1, 1998.

The Board has remanded the case due to changes in the law and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating from 10% to 0% for the veteran's low back disability was proper, and restoration of a 10% rating is not warranted.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted effective May 6, 1991, as it was factually ascertainable that he was totally disabled due to his service-connected back disability on that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to meet its duty-to-assist obligation and need for further medical input regarding the relationship between the veteran's low back disorder and his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Board found no CUE in the July 1964 RO decision which assigned a 10 percent rating for service-connected healed fractures of the lumbar spine with wedging of T7.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and ratings for various disabilities, including residuals of a right elbow injury, headaches as due to undiagnosed illness, patellofemoral syndrome of both knees, chronic right ankle sprain, low back pain, and pulmonary restrictive disease.