Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The RO must re-evaluate the service connected low back disorder with consideration of the described sensory deficit in both lower extremities as part and parcel of lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome. The veteran's claim for an increased rating remains denied, and he should be given the opportunity to respond.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, hearing loss, and stomach disorder.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of spinal meningitis due to new and material evidence submitted since the 1996 RO decision. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining hospital records from 1982 and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not file a timely substantive appeal for her claims regarding service connection and increased evaluation. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The veteran's treatment at a private hospital was not authorized by VA, and the Board denied reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 12, 1994 for service connection was denied. The RO granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with a 20% evaluation as of April 12, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and to reopen his service connection claims, maintaining that new evidence did not warrant reopening of the right ankle and knee disability claims, and denying a left knee disability claim. The low back disability was rated at 20 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for the residuals of a low back injury but granted service connection for a psychiatric disability. The decision is mixed as it addresses both issues.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's chronic low back strain with degenerative disc disease, which is considered to be more severe than the current 40 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his thoracolumbar strain, finding that he did not have a right wrist disability or significant thoracolumbar strain.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability of the neck and/or low back incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor could arthritis of the low back be presumed to have been incurred in active service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found no evidence of a low back disability during service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for chronic low back strain, internal hemorrhoids, and acne vulgaris of the face and sternum. The appeal was dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for low back strain disorder and disc degenerative disease, lumbar spine have been granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of carcinoma of the prostate and low back strain, finding that there is no evidence to support a compensable rating or any increase in disability.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date of May 3, 1995 for the TDIU rating due to lack of evidence showing individual unemployability within one year prior to the June 1991 application.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's current back disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disorder and a bilateral knee disorder, finding no current disability due to service or any related exposure.

The veteran's service-connected back disability results in the loss of use of both lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of canes, meeting the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance.