Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and initial evaluations in excess of 20 percent for his hemorrhoids and chronic low back tendonitis with spasm are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining medical records from a hospital in 1960.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and compensation, finding that the May 1975 rating decision was not clearly erroneous and that the current service-connected conditions do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his degenerative disc disease, L5-S1, as it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran does not have cervical syringomyelia, lumbosacral strain, or scoliosis related to his active service. The veteran's only compensable service-connected disability is residuals of frostbite of the left 2nd and 4th fingertips, which do not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, low back disability secondary to left ankle sprain, and bilateral knee disabilities secondary to left ankle sprain. The veteran was assigned a 30% initial rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic acquired lumbar and cervical spine disorders, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder and is now considering the secondary service connection claim for a left knee disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorder is not related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the effective date being March 19, 2003. The highest rating of 70 percent was assigned for PTSD as of that date.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current low back disability and his service, including spinal anesthesia. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 11, 1991 for the grant of a 60 percent rating for myositis and DJD of the lumbar spine and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the claims for low back and left knee disorders, but denied reopening of the right knee disorder. The claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and low back disorder were not incurred or aggravated in active military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied. The RO granted service connection for status post compression fracture of the dorsal spine at D7-8 and arthritis of the lumbar spine, both secondary to his service-connected dorsal and lumbar spine disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred or aggravated by active service, including his Reserve duty in June 1996. The Board found no evidence of a significant incident occurring during this period and noted that there is no clear documentation of any significant injury to the back.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his active duty service, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine at L4-5, post discectomy was denied. The RO granted service connection and assigned a 20 percent rating effective from April 1, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current back disorder is related to an injury in August 1992 or complaints of back pain noted in February 1997 during active duty for training.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his knee and back disabilities are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence. He is also seeking a higher initial evaluation for cervical spine disability.