Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly pension benefits due to his nonservice-connected disabilities and age over 65, meeting the criteria for housebound status.

The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent rating for the neurological manifestations of his cervical spine disability in the right upper extremity, effective September 26, 2003. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability was reopened and granted secondary to the service-connected left ankle, left knee, and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it was incurred in service due to a parachuting injury.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for cervical spine arthritis, claimed as a cervical spine condition, on a presumptive basis due to its presence within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for wrist, back, and stomach disabilities due to incomplete service records. The Veteran's conditions are being evaluated based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and mechanical low back pain were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or a back disability, and the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, but denied the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee and low back conditions did not originate in service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to any incident during active service.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder. The Board also determined that there is no causal link between the right eye surgery and the loss of vision in the left eye, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining his vocational rehabilitation and counseling folder.

The Board has granted restoration of a 100 percent rating for service-connected residuals of a lumbar spine fusion, which constitutes a complete grant of the benefit sought on appeal with respect to this issue. The Veteran's claim for discontinuation of SMC remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for extra-schedular consideration due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unable to work.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination of his service-connected PTSD and completing additional development on the other issues.

The Veteran's chronic lumbar back pain syndrome was granted a 60% evaluation effective March 2, 2004. His duodenal ulcer disease is not considered for an increased rating as it has no current disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability (lumbosacral strain) was denied by the Board, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied an initial schedular evaluation in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia with headaches, sleeplessness, fatigue, and diffuse multiple joint pain. The issue of whether separate ratings for individual joint disabilities are warranted was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is as least as likely as not caused by or a result of an in-service fall, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (lumbar spine disorder). The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine disorder.