Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective from March 1992. The veteran's claim for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptation is referred to the RO for further action.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back strain with muscle pull is properly rated at a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5295, and does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder in July 1997. The case was remanded multiple times, and the Court granted a joint motion to vacate the decision and remand the claim for further adjudication.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the veteran's claims of service connection for stomach disorder, prostate disorder, back disorder, or acquired psychiatric disorder. The veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and lumbosacral strain. The medical evidence did not support evaluations in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of a low back disorder and also denied his claim regarding the propriety of the initial rating assigned for loss of motion of the lumbar spine due to post-surgical changes and degenerative disc disease.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left hip replacement, residuals of arthritis (lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint), and right hip arthritis, have rendered him unemployable due to his physical limitations. The combined disability rating is 90 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of spiral meningitis, a bilateral knee disability, a bilateral shoulder disability, and a back condition.

The veteran's arthritis of the left knee and low back disability are both found to be service-connected as secondary to his right tibia and fibula fracture.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar spine arthritis and cervical spine arthritis, as well as his claim for an extension of a temporary total rating based on a period of convalescence beyond November 30, 1997. The appeals were not about service connection.

The veteran incurred dental trauma to tooth number 26 during active service, and he is therefore entitled to outpatient dental services and treatment as well as related appliances for this tooth. The other claims of service connection were not granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and a skin rash of the left arm. The decision is mixed as it addresses multiple issues.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of service connection for a back disability and remanded the case to obtain additional medical records, clarify the nature of his workers' compensation hearing, and schedule him for VA examinations. The effective date question is deferred pending completion of this development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and extensions of temporary total convalescent ratings for his back and right ankle disabilities, finding that there is no medical evidence demonstrating severe post-operative residuals warranting additional convalescence beyond October 31, 1998 and October 31, 1999.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for service connection for fracture of the coccyx and granted service connection for fracture of the sacrum with post-traumatic degenerative changes and disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, assigning a 20 percent rating.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability or rectal leakage during service and concluded that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, and shoulder disabilities, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his active duty.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar strain has been rated at 20 percent since March 5, 1998. The VA determined that the disability does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current multiple sclerosis and there is no evidence of degenerative disc disease L5-S1 meeting the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis was denied as there was no medical evidence showing the existence of this condition. For the back disability, the evaluation remains at 10 percent.