Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a personal hearing and a prehearing conference.

The veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new VA spine rating criteria.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a low back injury are currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation of 40 percent is warranted based on severe lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 3, 1996 for the grant of special monthly compensation based on housebound status. The decision stated that there was no prior claim and that the veteran did not meet the criteria for benefits at the 'housebound' rate under 38 U.S.C.A. 1114(s).

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Dallas VAMC and requesting an opinion on whether the veteran's disabilities are related to his military service.

The VA denied a claim for an increased disability rating for the veteran's low back disorder, which was characterized as degenerative joint disease and disc bulging of the lumbosacral spine. The RO initially granted service connection in June 1998 with a 20% evaluation, and later increased it to 40% effective October 21, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder and bilateral foot disorder (pes planus) are not related to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's current back disability, including spondylolisthesis of L-5 and L-6, was not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA spine examination and an addendum to the examiner's report. The veteran is seeking service connection for his low back disorder.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, effective from September 5, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain warrants a 10 percent rating, as it causes persistent tenderness and muscle tightness in his back.

The Board found no evidence of a current low back disability related to service, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and review of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine if the veteran's current back disability and head injury residuals are related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for lumbosacral strain, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The condition produces some muscle spasm on occasion, pain relieved by medication, and limitations of motion are slight to moderate.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or any other claimed conditions, and denied the claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive VA examination to determine the current manifestations of his service-connected degenerative disc disease at L4-L5, as well as neurological impairment.