Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran was granted a TDIU rating with an effective date of February 6, 1997. He appealed for an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to changes in the law, including compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claims are related to service connection and new evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for residuals of a lumbosacral injury was denied by the RO. The Board noted that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 5, 1998 for a 60 percent rating for the veteran's low back disability. The issue of entitlement to higher initial ratings for residuals of an injury of the lumbosacral spine and a compensable initial rating for residuals of excision of a right ankle mass remains on appeal.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder, but did not reach a decision on whether it was related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis and a neuropsychiatric disorder secondary to her service-connected low back syndrome, as well as her request for an increased evaluation for her low back disability.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and cervical spine are being remanded to allow for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current back condition and his military service.

The Board found no evidence of chronic low back disorder or headaches in service, and the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases in finding that a chronic back disorder was not incurred or aggravated in service. The veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder is now pending with the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability due to aggravation by the veteran's service-connected knee disorders. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral varicose veins of the lower extremities is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder and reopened the claim of service connection for a back disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bronchial asthma, degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis of the feet, and degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine were granted with a rating of 10 percent in each case.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder and cervical spine conditions are service-connected, with the right shoulder condition being secondary to his service-connected right forearm gunshot wound residuals.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disorder and entitlement to a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or sufficient medical records supporting his allegations.

The VA has determined that the veteran's current disability rating of 20 percent for residuals of lumbosacral strain is appropriate based on his symptoms and examination findings.

The VA has denied an increased rating for spondylosis of the lumbar spine, currently rated at 60 percent.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for higher ratings for migraine headaches and lumbosacral strain due to a need for additional medical records, including VA and private treatment records. The examiner is asked to assess the severity of these conditions and provide an opinion on their impact on the veteran's functional ability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of the current ratings.