Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection and a 10 percent rating for the veteran's low back disorder, effective from October 1993. The veteran's claim for a higher rating remains pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a hiatal hernia, an initial rating exceeding zero percent for gastritis with duodenal ulcer, and a rating exceeding 40 percent for lumbosacral strain. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder due to new evidence submitted by the veteran. However, the claim is still pending as it must be decided based on all available evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for a back disorder was not reopened, while the psychiatric disorder claim is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine are denied as there is no evidence to support a higher evaluation under applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's combined disability rating is at least 70%, meeting the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the elbows and increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The RO is instructed to ensure all notification and development actions required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 are completed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral disc herniation and peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than March 23, 1989, for service connection of OBS and for increased evaluation of OBS. The RO assigned a 10 percent evaluation for OBS effective March 23, 1989.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability was denied. The RO found that the increase in disability had not occurred prior to May 19, 1997.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including mechanical low back pain, a laceration of the right hand, residuals of left shoulder injury, residuals of right shoulder injury, residuals of left knee injury, residuals of right knee injury, residuals of left ankle injury, a bilateral foot disorder, hepatitis B, residuals of cold injury to the feet, and allergic conjunctivitis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet and PTSD, finding that new evidence submitted since the prior denial is not material. The claim for a back disorder was also denied as there was no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for which service connection may be granted, including for the claimed bilateral hip condition, knee condition, ankle condition, low back condition, and hearing loss. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, which he claims is related to a bicycle accident in 1946. The Board has ordered another VA orthopedic examination and remanded the case due to new evidence.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, but remanded the case to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the veteran's low back disorder, effective October 1, 1994. The skin disorder claim was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability, but denied these claims as his submitted evidence was not sufficient to establish a well-grounded claim.

For the period from September 1, 1994 to January 19, 1996, a 20 percent evaluation for chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and postoperative residuals of a synovial cyst is granted.,From April 1, 1996, the veteran's low back disability has not met criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran does not require regular aid and attendance or be considered housebound due to his disabilities.,VA determined that recovery of the overpayment is against equity and good conscience, considering factors such as the appellant's lack of fraud and undue financial hardship.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD and granted a 30 percent rating for headaches. The ratings for irritable bowel syndrome, low back disorder, and residuals of left foot injury remain unchanged.