Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence. The issues include an increased evaluation for his service-connected condition and entitlement to special monthly pension.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including major depressive disorder, blurred vision, hypertension, peptic ulcer disease, diarrhea, and a low back disorder with pain, were denied as the evidence did not show current disabilities or support a finding of an undiagnosed illness. The Board found that the claimed disorders are either accounted for by known clinical diagnoses or not manifested by chronic disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder, which was previously denied in February 2000. The appeal is granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbar myositis with chronic right L5 radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering revised rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The veteran's low back disorder, manifested by some loss of lumbar lordosis and discomfort to palpation of the sacroiliac joints, was evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The RO found that moderate limitation of motion (LOM) of the lumbar spine had not been demonstrated at any time since the effective date of service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder secondary to lumbar disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a back disorder. The Board has determined that additional development, including medical examination and opinion, is needed to properly adjudicate his claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's service-connected unstable lumbosacral spine with pseudoarthritis, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his current lower back disorder is related to service, and thus denied service connection.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection due to incomplete information, need for further examination, and potential changes in rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is being remanded due to new regulations and incomplete information.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability is not related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted restoration of a 40 percent evaluation for the service-connected low back disorder, but the remaining issue is to determine if an original evaluation in excess of 40 percent should be granted for the period since August 1, 1995.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease at L4-L5 and lumbar radiculopathy was granted, resulting in a 60 percent evaluation effective from October 1991.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent under either the old or amended criteria.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 is being remanded due to inadequate development and examination.