Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board determined there was new and material evidence to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disorder and residuals of frostbite of the feet, but denied both. The claim for higher rating for conversion disorder with back pain is still pending.

The veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, but his cervical spine and low back disorders were denied. The right shoulder disorder claim is pending as new evidence has been submitted.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar disc disease and left shoulder separation were denied by the RO.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of cervical spine disability and granted it. The initial rating for low back pain remains unchanged, but the appeal regarding thoracic spine disability is still pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back and bilateral knee disorders are related to injuries sustained during service, including a jeep accident in Germany. The claim is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disorder is not medically shown to be the result of any incident of his active military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for low back disorder, bilateral ulnar nerve transposition, and right knee disability due to new evidence. The conditions are considered service-connected as direct results of injuries sustained during active duty training.

The Board granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected chronic low back pain but denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent. The Court vacated this decision and remanded the case to the Board for further examination and consideration.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, finding that his symptoms were adequately addressed by the current 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's L5-S1 spondylolisthesis with chronic low back strain is service-connected. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus worsened during service, warranting service connection. For his low back disability, the Board determined it was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for urinary stress incontinence and awarded a higher rating for the right ovarian cyst. The lumbosacral spine condition is rated at 20 percent, while the right knee disability remains noncompensable.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for higher evaluations for his low back disorder, left ulnar nerve neuropathy, migraine headaches, and mood disorder with major depressive features. The claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder is pending. The appellant's irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease have not been granted a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's appeal of the issue of service connection for PTSD was dismissed because a timely substantive appeal had not been received.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen claims for lung disease, heart disease, Crohn's disease, or a back disorder. The claim for a back disorder is reopened, but the veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board has determined that a timely notice of disagreement was filed with the April 1971 rating decision denying service connection for a back disability. As a result, the claim is not considered final and remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound, to include paralysis of the right femoral nerve with atrophy of quadriceps muscle, aggravates his nonservice-connected spondylosis of the lumbar spine, claimed as chronic lumbosacral strain. As such, secondary service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his service-connected laceration of the left index finger and denied service connection for a low back disability. The evidence did not support granting either claim.

The Board found that the March 1996 rating decision incorrectly assigned a 30 percent rating instead of the next higher 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, based on the correct application of the relevant diagnostic codes.