Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for housebound benefits due to his ability to leave his home and perform basic self-care activities.

The Board denied increased ratings for chronic lumbosacral strain and hypertension.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee disability and PTSD. Service connection was granted for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board finds that the veteran's dysthymic disorder is currently productive of virtual isolation in the community, with total incapacitating symptoms resulting in his total inability to obtain or retain employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hip replacements are rated at 70 percent, which is the highest rating available under VA regulations for such conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, but it remains denied as there is no evidence associating this condition with his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and for an increased rating for his left arm disability. The RO is instructed to ensure all necessary development has been completed, including obtaining additional medical records and providing examinations as requested.

The veteran's lumbar paravertebral myositis is currently rated at 40 percent disabling, effective from August 28, 1992. The RO increased the evaluation to 40 percent from May 18, 2000.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right flank have remained stable and productive of no more than moderate injury to the lumbar spinal muscles with well-healed scars. The RO has granted secondary service-connection for strained spinal muscle in the lumbar region, which is evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The veteran's laparotomy scar and shell fragment wounds of the face and thorax are currently well-healed, non-disabling, and asymptomatic.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective June 2, 1995. The lumbar spine disability remains at a 40 percent rating from the same date. The dorsal spine and right knee disabilities are both rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability involving bilateral hearing loss for which service connection could be granted under governing regulation.

The veteran's right eye injury was resolved without residual disability. The lumbar spine disability is productive of pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome, warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and arthritis of both shoulders, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of new and material evidence, with the exception of his claim for PTSD which was granted.

The veteran's appeal is about whether he should receive a higher evaluation for his lumbar strain with L5-S1 disc protrusion. The RO has not yet considered the claim and needs to provide additional information or examination as required by law.

The veteran is contesting the propriety of the RO's decision to reduce his rating for low back disability from 10 to 0 percent effective June 4, 1955. The Board has ordered remand to review this issue.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and readjudication, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting comprehensive VA specialty examinations.

The Board has granted the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for depression and remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination. The claims for increased rating for lumbosacral strain and total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are also being remanded.