Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected back disability has been rated at 40 percent since November 3, 2008. The Board granted a higher initial rating of 60 percent effective from October 29, 2001.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the issues concerning asthma, depression, and stress. The claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and low back disability are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and non-service connected pension benefits were denied due to the lack of a period of war service. The issue of service connection was remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the left ankle and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine are not related to his active service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a back disorder, neck disorder, left arm injury, right arm injury, and depression as there is no competent or credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder. However, the Veteran's claims for left knee and low back disorders due to the right knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left leg cellulitis, disability of the feet, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability, were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating for his cervical spine disability, finding that new evidence did not establish a current disability or link it to service.

The Board has determined that service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and right elbow and forearm tendonitis is not warranted, but has granted restoration of a 50 percent disability rating for service-connected rotator cuff syndrome of the right shoulder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a back disorder has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to consider the issues of initial rating for migraine headaches and TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent since September 7, 2000. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the old version of Diagnostic Code 5293 (intervetebral disc syndrome) as it was not severe with recurring attacks and intermittent relief.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and thus there is no effective date for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the January 2007 VA examination report and a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's reported debilitating periods are considered 'flare-ups'. The Veteran is scheduled for a new VA examination during one of these flare-up periods.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to an injury sustained during his ACDUTRA service in 1980, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with residuals of the right side is currently rated at 40 percent from December 22, 2009. The rating has been increased to reflect her current level of disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied as the current evaluation of 20 percent adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, gastrointestinal, and skin disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, waist disorder, and bilateral leg disorder due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a low back disorder or right knee disorder, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.