Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The VA determined that the appellant's service-connected lumbosacral strain disability is currently asymptomatic, but has shown moderate limitation of motion and muscle spasms with pain on motion over the course of the appeal period. The current rating for this condition remains at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current low back or bilateral knee disability as a result of his active service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine with degenerative joint disease, which he claims was caused by a spinal tap during his military service and aggravated by a subsequent back injury. The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if there is a nexus between the veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD, which renders moot the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to September 2000.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and did not grant an earlier effective date for TDIU (for accrued benefits purposes). The Board found that there was no evidence to establish a nexus between any of the veteran's service-connected disabilities or other incidents of his active service and his cause of death.

The Board granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral and thoracic spine disabilities, effective from September 26, 2003. Prior to that date, he was awarded a combined 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service records and arranging for VA examinations. The veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of a left ankle fracture, finding that his current arthritis is related to his in-service injury. The claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right shoulder conditions are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and entitlement to increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his left ankle sprain disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder began during his active service and is related to his military duties. As a result, the claim for service connection for a low back disorder is granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and a low back disorder, finding that new evidence submitted since the previous denial supports these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and granted an initial rating of 10 percent for a chronic right hip disability. The veteran's appeal is limited to these issues.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and consideration of new rating criteria.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected depression, hiatal hernia, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The effective date is August 4, 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbar radiculopathy involving the left lower extremity with loss of reflexes, foot drop, and muscular atrophy.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for a low back disorder and headaches due to insufficient development, including the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain from October 4, 1998. The other service-connected conditions have been evaluated as noncompensably disabling.