Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the cervical spine were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred during service.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, right otitis media, and bilateral eustachian tube dysfunction. The claim for increased evaluation of lumbosacral disc disease at L4-L5 was denied as the findings did not meet criteria for a higher rating. The claim for an increased evaluation of reflux esophagitis, to include hiatal hernia, was granted with a 10 percent disability rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, updated medical records from his recent period of active duty, and consideration of revised rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his left ear, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The back disorder and right shoulder disorder are also denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining information from CURR regarding a back injury in May 1969 and scheduling an appropriate VA examination to determine if any current back disorder is related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities for which service connection is warranted, including those claimed as residuals of a left knee injury, loss of balance, poor memory due to a damaged lymphatic nerve, a hernia, a hearing disorder, poor eyesight, the residuals of a back injury, and a shoulder disability. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected back disability, finding that he is not unemployable.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a lumbar laminectomy and his increased rating claim for fibromyositis. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The Board also found that any current conditions were not related to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disk disease, L5-S1, have been rated appropriately. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, which is a combination of degenerative joint and disc disease with bilateral radiculopathy, warrants a schedular rating of 60 percent based on intervertebral disc syndrome criteria effective as of March 1991. The maximum schedular rating available for this condition was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and right ankle disabilities have been rated, but the appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder, manifested by chronic low back pain and x-ray evidence of anterior wedging of the 11th and 12th thoracic and 1st lumbar vertebrae, was incurred during service.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his hypertension remains at a 10 percent rating. The case is remanded for further development regarding the low back disability.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder. The RO previously denied this claim in September 1959, which became final due to lack of timely NOD. The current decision denies all issues related to service connection.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, and a lumbosacral strain. The veteran's mental health issues are believed to have begun in childhood, while his physical back condition is attributed to a motor vehicle accident.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected hypertension, right knee instability, right knee degenerative joint disease, peeling feet (dermatophytosis, tinea unguium, and tinea pedis), and lumbosacral strain.