Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disorder, low back disorder, and left knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities in these areas.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of L4-L5, L5-S1 is currently rated at 20 percent and has been increased to reflect the effective date of December 1, 1999.

The veteran's initial claim for a low back strain disability was granted in January 1975 with an effective date of August 12, 1974. The RO has not awarded any earlier effective dates for the 10% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with spinal stenosis at L4-5, finding it incurred in service. The skin disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is related to his in-service injury and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 10 percent and later increased to 20 percent. The Board found that the disability warranted a rating of 40 percent from August 28, 1995 to the present.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his low back strain with degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring compliance with notification requirements.

The veteran's claims of increased ratings and service connection for his shoulder, foot, back, and neck conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to provide proper VCAA notice.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for his low back disability, which was initially granted in July 2001. The case must be remanded to ensure compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as spondylolisthesis of L4-L5, was incurred in service due to a fall from a hovering helicopter during his combat service in Vietnam. The Board found all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment reports and arranging for VA orthopedic and neurological examinations to assess the current severity of the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain. The issue remains about determining an appropriate rating based on the current disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to incomplete examination reports and additional development is required.

The veteran's Bell's palsy and mononucleosis are not shown to be related to service. His low back disorder is not due to an injury or other event during his period of active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the veteran's disabilities. The claims will be remanded to the RO for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, a sleep disorder, and musculoskeletal disabilities of his lower extremities. The appeals for reopening claims regarding headache disorder, low back disability, and psychiatric disability (PTSD) were also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability warrants a 40 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the decision.

The VA has maintained a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's chronic low back pain since October 2001, based on the criteria for lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for updated medical records, a VA examination, and consideration of new evidence.