Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus is service-connected, based on evidence showing it first manifested during his active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with radiculopathy. The veteran's low back disability is being reviewed de novo.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative changes in the lumbar spine are not related to his active military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The evaluation for the shrapnel wound to Muscle Group XX was also denied.

The Board finds that the initial 30 percent rating for degenerative disc disease, left (non-dominant) shoulder is proper based on limitation of motion. A separate 10 percent rating is assigned for a sharp, bony prominence posteriorly and laterally to the acromion which is painful.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbar disc syndrome, status post laminectomy on an extraschedular basis.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, residuals of frostbite, a back condition, and a left knee condition. The veteran's stomach condition was not found to be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The claim for an increased rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims regarding CUE in previous decisions, denial of his claim for a back disability, and denial of his request for an earlier effective date. The case was remanded to determine if the veteran is entitled to an original rating of 20 percent for postoperative degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes, finding that there was no evidence to support a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected low back disorder is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, resolving all doubts in favor of the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability was incurred during military service, granting service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his reported shell fragment wound to the left thigh or knee area, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's mechanical low back pain was initially rated at 20% prior to March 15, 2000 and increased to 40% thereafter.,The noncompensable rating for the fracture of the right little finger remains unchanged.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic low back syndrome was incurred during service and granted service connection.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the earliest possible effective date is July 15, 1994.

The Board has determined that the reductions in ratings for the veteran's left knee, right knee, and lumbosacral spine disabilities from their previous levels were not proper.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder results in no more than moderate limitation of motion and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The current 20 percent evaluation is maintained.

The veteran is seeking a higher disability rating for his lumbar neuritis, but the RO needs to obtain all relevant medical records and schedule him for an examination before making a decision.

The Board denied an increase in a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar strain with status post fracture of a transverse process, and later granted a 20 percent rating.