Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disorder, as the additional medical records were considered cumulative of previous evidence.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's arthritis of the cervical spine effective February 29, 2000.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes at L5, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for this higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent, as there is no objective evidence of current disability.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral diskectomy and laminectomy, L4-L5 vertebrae, with history of chronic low back pain is not manifested by ankylosis but is productive of pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome. The criteria for a higher evaluation are not met.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, muscular dystrophy, and heart disease due to lack of new and material evidence for the back disorder claim. The other two claims were not addressed as they are considered part of the same appeal.

The veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development of the evidentiary record, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability has been received, and thus the requirements to reopen the claim have been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to a significant change in the law and incomplete development of evidence. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected arthritis, including glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus, is pending.

The veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including those related to service connection for hip and back disorders secondary to bilateral knee disabilities, as well as requests for increased ratings for PTSD, headaches, hearing loss, and a postoperative nasal disability. The appeal is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has determined that the appellant's lumbar strain warrants a 10 percent rating, but denied reopening of her claim for service connection due to headaches as new and material evidence was not presented. The decision is mixed since one issue was granted (lumbar strain) and another was not (headaches).

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection of migraine headaches with blackouts, bilateral knee disorder, and low back disorder. The veteran's current conditions are deemed to have been incurred during his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted, allowing the claim to be reopened. However, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for the veteran's low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for residuals of status post C5-C6 anterior cervical diskectomy fusion with left iliac graft is granted. However, her request to reopen a claim for lumbar spine injuries was denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's back disability, finding that it is related to a fall during active duty and early degenerative joint disease.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for the increased evaluations of the thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis with low back pain disability and major depression disability should be October 7, 1998.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities, including her anxiety neurosis and lumbar spine injury, prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment. Therefore, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the veteran's service-connected post-medial meniscectomy of the left knee.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a herniated disc in the lumbar spine, which is secondary to his service-connected left knee condition.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is productive of symptoms that are suggestive of a pronounced disability picture overall, including x-ray evidence of severe degenerative changes and significant pain with range of motion testing. The Board has determined that there is a basis for a 60 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5293.