Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's low back disability, including residuals of a lumbar spine injury with post-operative residuals, is currently rated at 20 percent. This rating remains in effect as the appeal pertains to an original increased disability evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back and thyroid disorders, finding no new and material evidence to reopen them.

The veteran's severe limitation of motion in the lumbar spine warrants a disability rating of 40 percent.

The veteran's disabilities render him unable to independently care for his daily personal needs on a regular basis without assistance from another person, meeting the criteria for special monthly pension by reason of being in need of aid and attendance.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is not more than 20 percent disabling according to the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and determined that new evidence submitted since the May 1989 denial supports a finding of service connection for a back disability. The RO denied service connection initially because no post-service medical records indicated any link between the veteran's current condition and his in-service injury, but the additional evidence shows documented post-service injuries and treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar disc herniation secondary to his lumbosacral strain disability and an increased evaluation for residuals of chronic lumbosacral strain and partial left sciatica, finding that the veteran's current low back symptoms are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected condition.

The Board has reviewed the veteran's claims and found that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen several service connection claims. The original denial of these claims remains final.

The veteran's service-connected left ankle sprain and lumbosacral strain resulted in a temporary total disability rating due to hospitalization, with the effective date for the increased disability ratings set at February 21, 1990.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a back disorder and hip disorder, finding that these conditions were not causally related to his service-connected left BKA.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gallstones, hair loss, bowel problems, sore gums, frequent gynecological infections, and respiratory disorder. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or their relationship to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic acquired low back disorder and an increased evaluation for his service-connected gout. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran had a current disability related to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. The veteran's claim for service connection remains inapplicable as it pertains to reopening an existing claim, not establishing new service connection.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including a psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, neck disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and right shoulder disorder, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board granted increased ratings for the appellant's service-connected low back condition and left hip trochanter bursitis, with the low back condition receiving a 20% rating effective November 3, 1994.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to changes in the law and missing medical records.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, hypertension, and hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The case is now remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder, including postoperative lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, developed during service and is therefore granted service connection. The claim for PTSD will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected cervical strain with headaches is currently evaluated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5293. The claim for increased rating of low back pain was remanded due to the need for an etiological opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected low back pain and nonservice-connected DDD.

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of low back strain do not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.