Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected loss of the right deltoid muscle and residuals of a fractured lumbar spine at L-1, L-2, and L-4. The highest schedular rating available was assigned for each condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disease, and denied her requests for increased ratings for right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability.

The Board found that the veteran's current post-operative low back disability did not have its onset during or is not related to any incident of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disease of the cervical and lumbar spine is related to his service, including a jeep accident and parachute jumps during active duty.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and low back disability, both claimed as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness associated with service in the Persian Gulf. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar strain and hypertension, finding that neither set of criteria was more favorable to him.

The veteran is seeking an evaluation in excess of the current 20 percent rating for his lumbosacral disability. The RO denied this claim, and the Board has ordered remand to obtain additional evidence and ensure proper consideration.

The Board found that the veteran's mechanical low back pain with lumbar strain is properly rated at 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5295, as there was no evidence of muscle spasm on extreme forward bending or loss of lateral spine motion in a standing position. The limitation of motion tests conducted during VA examinations did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board granted an effective date of August 8, 1995 for the veteran's TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD and lumbar spine disabilities.

The veteran has withdrawn their appeal, and the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has granted service connection for post traumatic degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective July 21, 1999. The appellant's claim for an increased evaluation remains pending.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected low back disorder, but granted a 40% rating effective from July 31, 1998. The veteran appealed the effective date.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a disorder manifested by memory loss and sleep complaints, as well as for other conditions including lower back disorder, right wrist disorder, weak lungs, right eye disorder, hair loss, and fatigue. The remaining issues of service connection are addressed in the REMAND section.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his low back strain, finding that the condition is currently productive of not more than muscle spasm on extreme forward bending and loss of lateral spine motion, unilateral, in standing position.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of a back disorder, but concluded that the preexisting condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of April 9, 1998 for a 60 percent rating for his lumbar disc disease. The RO has not yet issued a Statement of the Case on other issues related to service connection and unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected cervical, dorsal, and lumbar spine conditions as well as his PUD. The diagnoses did not support higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.