Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran did not timely perfect an appeal as to his claim for service connection for a low back disorder, and thus dismissed the appeal.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbar sprain is being remanded due to the need to consider revised rating criteria and obtain additional medical examination.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for his scheduled hearing. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for thoracolumbar scoliosis will be reconsidered after the appropriate hearing.

The Board determined that the submitted evidence was not new and material to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims of service connection for back and foot disabilities, as well as his claim to reopen those claims. The issues are now pending before the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's substantive appeals with respect to the issues of service connection for a back condition, including osteoarthritis and residuals of laminectomy; osteoarthritis of both knees; hearing loss; and tinnitus were not adequate. The appeal is now vacated due to the Court's order terminating the appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow, low back, and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of current evidence of chronic conditions.

The Board found no relationship between the service-connected thoracic spine disability and either a cervical or lumbar spine disability, thus denying both claims for secondary service connection.

The veteran's death was not due to service-connected causes, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and residuals of a right hip injury, finding no evidence to support the veteran's claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back condition, right knee condition, and bilateral hip condition. The decision concluded that there was no evidence to support a finding of aggravation during service or any link between these conditions and service.

The veteran's back disability is currently rated at 60 percent for recurrent lumbosacral pain with early osteophyte formation and disc space narrowing, which includes unfavorable ankylosis of the lumbar spine, severe limitation of motion, pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome, and severe lumbosacral strain. The current rating adequately reflects these conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of a groin injury, including left varicocele, and back disability have been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that a rating of 60 percent is warranted for the veteran's lumbar paravertebral myositis with clinical left L5-S1 radiculopathy, effective from the date of the claim.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for residuals of a ligamentous injury of the left ankle, finding that the veteran's service-connected condition causes functional losses approximating marked limitation of motion.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for a low back disability. The claim for service connection for hypertension due to tobacco use in service was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, and therefore denied an increased rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back strain and PTSD, as well as his claim for a total rating due to service-connected disabilities are being remanded for further development.