Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a stomach disability remains denied.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 30 percent, and his combined rating for service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining additional evidence and providing proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's low back disability, characterized by lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, is currently rated at 40 percent. The rating has been granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an orthopedic and neurological examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further examination regarding service connection for low back strain with degenerative joint disease. The veteran's left ankle disorder and sinusitis are currently rated at 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a right knee condition, but denied them on their merits. The claim for hepatitis was not reopened.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbosacral spine effective March 22, 1994. The veteran's claim was initially denied in May 1990 and affirmed by the Board in November 1991. Service connection was granted based on new evidence submitted after a final denial.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability has aggravated his pre-existing low back disorder, and thus grants secondary service connection for the low back disorder.

The VA determined that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the low back, right knee, and left knee, status post total knee arthroplasty. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disability with degenerative changes. The Board has determined that further examination and medical opinion are needed to clarify the nature and etiology of his current lower back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 2, 2001 for the grant of a total rating for compensation based upon individual unemployability due to lack of evidence showing he became unemployable within one year of that date and because his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for such a rating.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disability due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The issue of low back disability is still pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right hip disabilities, finding no evidence of a chronic condition related to his military service.

The Board's decision in December 1997 denying the reopening of a claim for service connection for a low back disability is overturned due to new evidence showing a chronic post-service back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, effective September 26, 1988.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, to include arthritis and degenerative disc disease, from August 21, 1995 through December 22, 1996.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide proper VCAA notice and for further development.

The Board found that the veteran's thoracolumbar scoliosis did not warrant a higher rating, as it was manifested by symptoms in an unexceptional disability picture and did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the 'old' or 'new' rating criteria.