Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the initial evaluation for hearing loss of the left ear as the appellant withdrew this claim. The case is remanded to address the increased rating for lumbar strain.

The veteran claims his current low back disability is related to a muscle strain he sustained during service. The RO has held that the claim was not well grounded, and now requires additional evidence and development.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if a noncompensable rating for the veteran's back disorder, which was aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disability, is appropriate. The RO must obtain all available medical records and schedule the veteran for an orthopedic examination to assess the current degree of disability over and above pre-existing conditions.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the case for further development due to a change in the law regarding veterans' claims assistance. The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being reviewed, and additional evidence may be needed from health care providers.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities, but denied claims for increased evaluations. The veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective November 1, 1989. His left shoulder disability was initially rated at 20 percent from that date until December 1, 1997, when it was upgraded to a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for aggravation of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine due to service-connected disabilities of the feet. The case is now remanded for further action, including a VA medical examination and readjudication.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was granted. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bipolar disorder was also granted, with a 30 percent evaluation effective from February 1, 1993. Other claims were continued at their prior evaluations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the validity of the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and diabetes mellitus. The RO must attempt to obtain relevant medical records, including those from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, and schedule the veteran for appropriate examinations to assess his current conditions.

The veteran is seeking a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The RO should obtain additional medical records, verify the veteran's periods of military service, and schedule examinations to determine the effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and the need for further development, including obtaining service medical records from National Guard units, private medical records, and SSA disability benefits information.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected chronic low back pain and hypertension, finding that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for back disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the August 1993 denial. The case is now remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant requesting withdrawal of the appeal. The issues related to increased ratings for various knee and spine disabilities have not yet had a SOC issued on the issue of effective date for TDIU.

The Board dismissed the veteran's motion for revision of a prior decision due to lack of finality and because the issues were subsequently readjudicated under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed upper and lower back disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and are not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors. The veteran's current back conditions are considered unrelated to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service. The effective dates of these grants have not been determined.

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal requirements and the need for additional development of evidence, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the validity of the veteran's claims, including verifying stressors and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has determined that an effective date of October 25, 1985, is warranted for the grant of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The effective date for the grant of VA compensation benefits for the cervical spine disability is set at July 9, 1990.