Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar disc disease is likely due to injuries sustained during his active military service, including a fall from a helicopter and grenade/land mine explosions. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine and denied entitlement to a compensable evaluation for varicose veins of the right leg prior to June 14, 2001. The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his right leg varicose veins was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his mechanical low back pain, internal derangement of the left knee, and positional paresthesia and bursitis of the right shoulder. The evaluations were found to be at their maximum under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, and an increased rating to 30 percent for PTSD. The veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed disabilities have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and unclear evidence regarding service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic back and right foot disorders, as well as a gastrointestinal disorder, have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain and hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for his low back disability. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral iritis is remanded due to the need for further VA assistance in developing evidence.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's herniated lumbar disc and denied any increase in the rating for his chronic left flank pain, which is related to nonservice-connected kidney stones.

The Board found that the interruption of vocational rehabilitation benefits was proper, but the discontinuance of these benefits was not. The veteran's case was placed in 'interrupted status' and then later in 'discontinued status'.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and assigned an initial rating of 10 percent. The veteran is seeking an increased rating.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing low back disability existed before service and was not aggravated during active military service. The psychiatric disability claim lacks legal merit as there is no evidence of a psychosis within one year after service or a nexus to any incident of active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for a low back disability is granted, as her current low back problems are considered to be related to her military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a back condition, but it is unclear whether the current disability is related to service or post-service injuries.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder and is now considering whether new evidence supports this reopening.

The Board denied the appellant's request for waiver of overpayment of VA benefits due to his fault in creating the debt, and found that repayment would not be against equity and good conscience.

The appeal has been dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal (reopening of a claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder) has already been granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as he is able to engage in substantially gainful employment.