Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disorder warrants a 10 percent disability rating, effective March 23, 1998. The earlier date of July 23, 1955 is not considered as it does not meet the criteria for an effective date based on clear and unmistakable error in prior decisions.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 40 percent for service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, and a separate grant of 10 percent for thoracic (dorsal) spine spondylosis. The veteran's back disability is now rated as 40 percent disabling.

The RO denied the appellant's claims for increased PTSD evaluation and service connection for a right eye disorder, varicose veins, degenerative joint disease of the knees, low back disorder, and vascular and heart disorders. The appeal is remanded to allow further development.,The RO denied the appellant's claim for service connection for his right eye disorder as secondary to his left eye disability (traumatic cataract with glaucoma and aphakia). The appeal is remanded to allow further development.,The RO denied the appellant's claim for service connection for varicose veins. The appeal is remanded to allow further development.,The RO denied the appellant's claim to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the knees. The appeal is remanded to allow further development.,The RO denied the appellant's claims for service connection for low back disorder and vascular and heart disorders as secondary to his left eye disability and/or shell fragment wounds. The appeal is remanded to allow further development.,The RO denied the appellant's claim for service connection for vascular and heart disorders as secondary to his left eye disability and/or shell fragment wounds. The appeal is remanded to allow further development.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability does not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied due to lack of well-groundedness. The case is now remanded due to the implementation of the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered the RO to take further action on the veteran's claim, including obtaining additional medical records and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. The appeal is remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic low back disorder, thoracic spine strain, and cervical spine strain due to lack of competent evidence showing a current disability related to service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has denied the claim for service connection for a low back disability due to lack of well-groundedness. The appellant's current back disability is attributed to injury in service, but further examination and evidence are needed.

The Board's decision of December 1999 awarded a 10 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain with arthritis at L5-S1. The motion to revise this decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and hypertrophic spondylosis, effective as of March 29, 1989.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 5, 1990, for a total schedular disability rating for organic brain syndrome with PTSD and paranoid psychosis. The decision found that entitlement did not arise before receipt of the March 5, 1990 claim.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability. The case was remanded by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) in April 1998, who ordered the RO to contact the Los Angeles VAMC and request all of the veteran's treatment records, including those from prior to 1992.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disability, which the Board has remanded due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 14, 1994, for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease. The decision states that the earliest possible effective date is September 14, 1994.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the appellant's lumbar muscle strain with degenerative changes at L5-S1, effective from March 27, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected neck and low back disorders do not warrant increased ratings as they are currently evaluated.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left shoulder disorder, including arthritis, as aggravated by his service. The other issues on appeal will be addressed in a separate remand.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for myalgia of the thoracolumbar spine is granted, with a current evaluation of 10 percent. The claims for service connection and TDIU are denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and is granting service connection for a low back disorder, finding new and material evidence to support his claim. The case will be remanded for further development of medical records.