Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board denied service connection for neck, back, arm, and left leg disorders that the veteran claimed were secondary to his already service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 60 percent for the veteran's lumbar spine disability, effective September 22, 2004.

The Board found no current diagnosed back or left shoulder disorder and denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain additional medical records and service personnel records, as well as VA examinations for orthopedic and audiologic evaluations. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back injury with residual strain, spondylolisthesis L5-S1 is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, characterized by limited range of motion, meets the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for additional evidence regarding the veteran's neck and low back disabilities. The AMC is instructed to obtain records from health care providers identified by the veteran, as well as Social Security Administration disability determination records.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected conditions were denied.,He was awarded a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective January 19, 1999.

The VA found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder, resulting in its denial.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right hip disability, finding it incurred in service. The low back disabilities and left hip disabilities are found to be pre-existing conditions that were not aggravated by service.

The Board granted a rating of 60 percent for lumbosacral strain with arthritis, spinal stenosis and radiculopathy effective October 23, 1996.

The VA has increased the veteran's rating for her service-connected low back disorder from 40 percent to 60 percent effective July 19, 2001.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing to address his claims of service connection for cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities and an increased rating for skin condition of the hands.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease for the periods February 28, 1995 to August 23, 1996 and August 24, 1996 to January 14, 2002.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his inability to work is due to non-service connected psychological issues.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with radiculopathy, effective from March 27, 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service, including a back injury in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 40 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative anterior lipping at L4 and L5, currently rated at 20 percent.