Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of negligence or fault on the part of VA in causing additional low back disability resulting from 1996 surgery. The veteran's claim is denied.

The veteran's service-connected cardiac arrhythmia is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from August 1, 1997. The evaluation remains unchanged as the current criteria do not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar disc syndrome and a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip disability and an increased rating for chronic low back strain, finding no current hip disability and concluding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied an increased disability evaluation for the veteran's lumbar strain, finding that the current 20 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification of the veteran's medical history and a VA examination to determine the cause(s) of his lumbar spine disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that the evidence did not warrant an evaluation greater than 10 percent for his hypertension disability or additional support for a claim of allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for procedural matters, including scheduling a hearing and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disorders, including a low back disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral wrist and ankle disorders, as well as chronic pain in multiple joints. The RO also denied her increased rating claim for her right knee disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease with neck spasms, citing lack of a secondary relationship to his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left neck.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to increased ratings for PTSD from January 15, 1998 to March 26, 2000 (to a maximum of 30 percent), but not beyond. The veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by mild symptoms before March 27, 2000 and moderate symptoms thereafter.

The veteran's back and leg pain, as well as his urinary and bowel incontinence worsened after his August 1996 VA surgery. However, the Board found that these were necessary consequences of the surgery.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected synovitis of the left knee was granted, but he remains entitled to service connection for other disabilities including right and left knee issues, shoulder problems, low back pain, hip issues, and kidney concerns.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus has aggravated his nonservice-connected degenerative and discogenic disease of the lumbar spine, resulting in radiculopathy. The Board finds that this constitutes a classic Allen situation where the aggravation is proximately due to the service-connected condition.

The Board granted service connection for duodenal ulcer and disabilities of the eyes, including cataracts and glaucoma, due to mustard gas exposure. Service connection was denied for furunculosis, residuals of low back injury and ankylosing spondylitis, and residuals of rib fractures.

The veteran is seeking a review of the disability evaluation for her service-connected arthritis of the lumbar spine, L4-5, with sacroiliitis. The RO has been instructed to consider whether the current 20 percent rating should be maintained or if a separate rating for degenerative joint disease should be assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected degenerative changes to the lumbar spine, finding that there was no new and material evidence to reopen the claim. The RO had previously granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective August 1998.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease and herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the symptoms meet the criteria for such an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a low back injury with degenerative disc disease effective from October 6, 2001. The veteran's claim was reopened and granted on this date.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The case will be reviewed after these records are obtained.