Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and PTSD, finding no new and material evidence to support reopening of these claims. The claim for peripheral neuropathy was not addressed as it is related to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for back disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disability is before the Board on a de novo basis.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, considering his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine. Service connection was denied for any current eye disorder other than refractive error.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability in August 1999. The veteran appealed to the Court, which vacated and remanded the decision. In October 2000, the RO granted service connection for a low back disorder with a 20% rating effective from March 20, 2000. As this case is now moot due to the grant of service connection, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, which is considered moderate limitation of motion due to pain.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his right and left trapezius and scapular muscles with chronic rotator cuff impingement and tendonitis, effective June 1, 1995. The effective dates for these determinations are April 5, 1993.

The Board has granted increased disability evaluations for the veteran's cervical spine disorder and low back pain, but denied an increase in his headaches.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a rating higher than 20 percent for the low back disability or a rating higher than 10 percent for the right knee disability.

The veteran's fatal diabetes was incurred during his active duty and is considered service-connected. The cause of death, therefore, meets the criteria for DIC based on service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lower back disability warrants a 40 percent evaluation, which is the highest rating available under VA's musculoskeletal rating criteria.

The Board has not determined whether new and material evidence was received to reopen claims for service connection for PTSD, cancer of the bladder, low back disability, left knee disability secondary to right knee disability, or arthritis of both hands. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a right knee meniscectomy remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred in or related to his active service.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, which was previously denied in July 1955. The claim is now reopened.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for disabilities of the left leg and low back to allow for additional development, including scheduling a personal hearing at the RO before a member of the Board.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various claimed disabilities due to insufficient evidence or further development is needed.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected chronic low back pain with radicular pain, status post diskectomy and laminectomy is granted, as he currently has a 40 percent disability rating.

The veteran's right leg disorder and low back disorder are service-connected due to aggravation of pre-existing conditions. The skull injury claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss, left knee disability, and low back sprain. The RO had previously granted service connection for these conditions but did not find them related to active duty.