Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected low back injury, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease, post operative, left hemilaminectomy, and L5-S1 diskectomy warrants a disability evaluation of 40 percent.

The VA has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's low back disorder, which is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The new evaluation reflects moderate limitation of motion of the lumbosacral spine.

The veteran requested a withdrawal of his appeal for an increased evaluation for a low back disability, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to this request.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine did not preexist service or become more severe during service, and thus cannot be presumed to have been incurred therein. The veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is also not considered to have been incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and residuals of a right ankle injury.

The VA has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's thoracolumbar strain, but denied claims of service connection for cervical spine and tailbone disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbar strain and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective July 1, 1996. The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability or right leg shortness incurred during service, and concluded that any current conditions are not related to military service.

The Board has granted a 40% disability rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbar myositis and sacroiliitis, which was previously rated at 20%. The condition results in severe limitation of motion of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has denied the veteran's increased rating claims for his service-connected left thigh, left foot, and right shoulder disabilities. The RO also granted service connection for a right knee sprain and assigned noncompensable evaluations to each of these disabilities, effective from June 1999.

The veteran's appeal is for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder, which has been rated at 40 percent. The RO denied the claim and now requests further examination to determine if a higher rating of 60 percent is warranted based on pronounced low back disability.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date of January 21, 1998 for the grant of total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's increased rating for lumbosacral strain with pain in the left leg was granted by the RO, but he requested a hearing before a Member of the Board at the RO.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further consideration, including additional medical examinations and development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence and changes in law.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support the claim based on direct service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for leg pains as secondary to his service-connected low back pain with osteoarthritis was granted. His claims for increased ratings for schizophrenia and low back pain were also granted.

The Board has determined that further development is required before the completion of appellate action, including obtaining additional medical records and affording the veteran with examinations to determine the nature and extent of his service-connected right ankle disability and nonservice-connected disabilities. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and also denied his request for an increased evaluation for his psychiatric disorder. The evidence submitted since the November 1974 rating decision did not provide new and material evidence to support reopening of the service connection claim.