Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic back disorder and temporomandibular joint syndrome, finding that new evidence supports these claims. However, the decision does not specify whether service connection is granted or denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back injury with residuals of back surgery and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The veteran's appeal was to seek an increased evaluation beyond this initial assignment.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied, but he received a 50% rating for his bilateral pes planus. He also received TDIU benefits and is eligible for special monthly compensation based on housebound status.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral nerve root injury with radiculopathy and reflex sympathetic dystrophy, currently rated at 40 percent disabling, is granted. The effective date of the increased rating is February 25, 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran should be afforded VA examinations to determine if his left knee and back disabilities are related to service. The appeals for these conditions will now proceed based on the evidence presented.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's residuals of compression fractures of the thoracic spine and a separate 20 percent evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that both conditions meet the criteria under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of a head trauma, acquired psychiatric disability, bunions, left hip disability, and low back disability. The reasons included lack of credible evidence supporting these conditions or their relationship to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip, increased rating for low back pain syndrome, and compensable rating for obturator nerve damage of the left inner thigh were denied. The appeals are based on secondary service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current lower back disability is not related to his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board granted a 60 percent evaluation for the service-connected lumbar spine disorder effective May 3, 2000. The veteran's right wrist fracture with prosthesis was already rated at 30 percent prior to this decision.

The veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent from the effective date of service connection to August 3, 1998.,From August 4, 1998, the rating increased to 60 percent due to more severe symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a low back condition is denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service, and there are no indications of arthritis or other chronic conditions related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right hip, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disorders are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing their onset during or within one year after service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected chronic low back strain does not warrant a higher rating, and his total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbar strain with dextroscoliosis and degenerative changes is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from private providers and conducting a VA examination.

The VA has determined that the veteran's low back disability, which includes mechanical low back pain and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, warrants a rating of 20 percent. The evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hyperopia with left eye amblyopia and astigmatism, as well as his claim for a lumbar spine disability. The evidence did not show that these conditions were aggravated during service or first manifested in service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected low back disability is being remanded due to the absence of objective evidence of sciatic neuropathy and insufficient detail in the most recent VA examination report. The case will be reviewed again with additional development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board determined that the reduction from a 20 percent evaluation to a 10 percent evaluation for low back syndrome with history of sprain and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was proper, effective November 1, 2000.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance services provided by Antioch Ambulance Service on February 11, 1998, and August 7, 1998 is denied as there was no pre-authorization from VA and the services were not rendered in an emergency situation.