Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition, left ear otitis, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to April 7, 1997, for the grant of service connection for lumbar disc disease, status post diskectomy and fusion. The RO was also remanded to consider a higher evaluation for the service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a service-connected injury or condition. The VA also found insufficient medical records to support the claim.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and Bell's palsy, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board determined that these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability secondary to service-connected disabilities of the knees and right ankle. The other issues on appeal were denied.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's residuals of a lumbar spine injury, finding that it more closely approximates pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities warrant a 100 percent schedular evaluation, which is the highest available under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to new evidence submitted and the need to comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a deviated nasal septum, finding that there is no evidence of chronic disability during or within one year after service discharge.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his right ankle disability and service connection for a herniated disc, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board has restored the veteran's original 40 percent rating for his low back condition, finding that the evidence does not support a reduction to 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ear hearing loss and an increased rating for residuals of right (major) 5th finger fracture, but granted service connection for a back condition secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for allergic asthmatic bronchitis, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or new VA rating criteria. The issues of evaluating cervical and lumbar spine myositis are deferred pending adjudication of service connection for cervical and lumbar disc disorders.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher evaluation than currently assigned, as his range of motion was limited to 0-110 degrees with pain beyond this point. The lumbar spine condition was also addressed but no rating was provided due to lack of information.

The VA determined that the veteran's low back disability with degenerative changes and degenerative disc disease warrants a 40 percent evaluation, which is the current rating for this condition. The Board found no evidence to support an increase in the disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, an increased rating for postoperative HNP of the lumbar spine, and a higher rating for dislocation of the left shoulder. The claim for left chest pain due to cardiovascular procedure was not addressed as it did not involve service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, with intervertebral disc syndrome and associated symptoms, warrants a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5293.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disorder (scoliosis) due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities within VA compensation criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensable evaluations for his service-connected lumbar spondylosis and status post left knee fibular fracture, finding no basis for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board found that the appellant's back disorder existed prior to his entry into service and was not caused by military service, thus denying service connection.