Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar back strain with facet arthritis did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for the periods specified, based on his symptoms and range of motion.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical examination to determine if the veteran's current low back disability is related to his service in 1961 and/or the reported low back pain in-service. The claim will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and noting that any current condition is not related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen claims of service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a left elbow disorder. The claim for a leg/ankle disorder is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's back disability, characterized by severe limitation of motion and some evidence of neurological involvement, warrants a 60 percent evaluation. The total disability rating for unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also granted.

The veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease has resulted in a current disability evaluation of 40 percent, which is the maximum non-compensable rating under the applicable criteria.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that his disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence without a waiver by the RO.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and issuance of a statement of the case on the issues of evaluations for lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability did not result from disease or injury in service and is not otherwise related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for post-operative residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine with degenerative changes, and granted a separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity effective July 29, 2004.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected lumbosacral strain, currently evaluated at 20 percent. The RO found that there was no evidence of intervertebral disc syndrome or other manifestations warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral foot, back, and right shoulder conditions are related to his military service. The claims for these disabilities have been granted.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the appellant's service-connected varicose veins of the right and left legs, effective November 16, 1998.

Service connection is granted for post-traumatic arthritis of C3 and C4, but denied for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. Service connection is also granted for arthritis of both knees, but hearing loss of the right ear remains denied.,The veteran's traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine is linked to an injury sustained while on active duty.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis and assigned a 60 percent evaluation, effective from July 16, 2001. The veteran's claim for increased ratings was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and assigned an initial rating of 10 percent, effective January 1, 2004.

The veteran's claims for service connection for back and leg disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected low back strain is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under the old criteria. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent was denied.