Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD and orthopedic conditions. The effective date is not specified as it was a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a back disorder is not well grounded and requires additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain, hearing loss, hypertension with renal impairment, and cardiac disease. The claim for a compensable disability rating for acneiform lesions, folliculitis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral spine arthritis, which is currently rated at 40 percent under Diagnostic Code 5292 for limitation of motion of the lumbar spine, meets the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation based on severe symptoms such as pain and limited motion. No additional manifestations not already contemplated in the rating are present.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum evaluation available for this condition.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral radiculitis is related to his service and grants service connection for a chronic low back disability.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, other than scoliosis, on the basis of aggravation during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence showing a chronic acquired low back disorder in service or post-service. The Board also found that any current low back disorder is not causally related to his service-connected bilateral knee reconstructions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of service connection for back and left knee disorders.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities continued to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board found that he was entitled to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective from December 21, 1948.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back strain, bilateral flat feet, hepatitis, and chronic gastritis. The decision is based on a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a link to military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension have been denied. The claim for a back disorder has been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to January 12, 1998 or in excess of 20 percent beginning that date.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left knee, and low back disorders as not well grounded. The RO also increased the evaluation for post-concussion syndrome with post traumatic migraine headaches and memory loss to 30 percent.

The veteran's sole service-connected disability, arthritic changes of the lumbosacral spine with recurrent lumbosacral strain and signs of nerve root irritation, rated at 60 percent disabling, does not render him unemployable due to his service-connected disability.

The veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not demonstrate clear and unmistakable error in prior decisions. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, maxillary sinusitis/rhinitis, and migraine headaches. The TDIU claim was also denied as the veteran is not precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of the appellant's service-connected lumbosacral strain and any left ankle disorder. The claims for increased disability evaluation and service connection will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has found that the veteran's current low back disability is related to her military service and remands the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and thoracic and left trapezius strain have been dismissed as the veteran withdrew his notice of disagreement.

The VA denied an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's low back injury with degenerative disc disease, finding that the current rating adequately reflects his disability.