Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder, including lumbosacral strain, degenerative joint disease, and degenerative disc disease, was incurred in service due to a work-related injury in 1980. The examiner concluded that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected low back strain with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, as well as his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder is at least as likely as not related to his period of active duty service, specifically a fall from a tank in July 1977. The majority of his current disability is due to intervening events (serious on-the-job injuries), but the mild lumbar strain resulting from the in-service injury still exists.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his education and occupational experience, which allow him to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for an effective date of February 25, 1994 for a 20 percent rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a chronic low back pain condition attributable to his military service.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected back disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder and a low back disorder are being remanded to allow for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to provide VCAA notice, and further development is required.

The VA has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the appellant's right knee disability, effective from March 14, 2001. The rating is based on limitation of motion and instability, with no significant change in condition warranting staged ratings.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition and determined that new evidence supports this claim. The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected chronic lumbar muscular strain, with degenerative instability and degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new rating criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's abdominal aortic aneurysm and low back disorder did not have their onset during active service or are related to disease or injury in service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for any of the claimed conditions and denied all claims.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorders are not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for Guillain-Barre Syndrome and granted an increased evaluation to 20 percent for low back pain.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder during service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have osteoarthritis of the knees or degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine that is related to service-connected disabilities. Therefore, his claims for these conditions are denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected lumbosacral strain (formerly characterized as residuals of a compression fracture of the T-12 and L-1 vertebrae) has been denied. The RO found that the current level of impairment does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.