Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for mitral valve prolapse and denied initial ratings greater than 10 percent for lumbosacral disability including a left ileum sclerotic degree, sleep apnea, and chronic bronchitis. The veteran's claims were not well grounded for the left shoulder disorder, reflux esophagitis, asthma, and photophobia.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 20 percent disability rating for chronic degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and residuals of a status post disc surgery at C-7, effective December 2, 1996. The veteran was not granted an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder is related to his service, specifically an injury he sustained during World War II. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted a separate evaluation for the veteran's tension headaches as secondary to his service-connected hypertension, but denied service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has determined that a grant of the benefits sought is warranted, and service connection for a low back disorder is granted.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the assignment of a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted a 40% rating for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, which includes arthritis and disc disease. The condition produces severe limitation of motion of the lumbar spine.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, but further development is needed to determine if there is evidence of a causal relationship between his current back disorder and his active service.

The Board found no evidence of a service connection for the veteran's low back disability, concluding that any injury occurred during civilian employment and not related to active duty or reserve service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, now described as post-traumatic discogenic disease of the lumbosacral spine with L5-S1 disc herniation and radiculopathy, is manifested by pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome, warranting an increased rating of 60 percent under Diagnostic Code 5293.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with traumatic arthritis and bursitis of the left shoulder have been granted increased evaluations.

The Board granted a 40% evaluation for chronic low back strain effective August 28, 1995. The veteran's claim for residuals of a fracture of the left zygoma was not supported by evidence showing it is related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that a higher disability rating for the veteran's service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Board determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, with osteoarthritis, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms and does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of clear and unmistakable error in the January 1989 rating decision for low back pain with a history of associated psychological factors, and also denied her request for an earlier effective date for dysthymic disorder.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, shell fragment wound scars of the right foot, and shell fragment wound scars of the left foot were denied by the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's motion alleging CUE in a September 1999 decision that denied TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found no error and concluded that the interpretation of the regulation was correct.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of well-grounded evidence, and no clear and unmistakable error was found in their decision.

The veteran's appeals have been dismissed without prejudice due to his withdrawal of the appeals.