Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied an increased evaluation for spondylolisthesis of the lumbosacral spine, currently rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected low back and left knee disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, blepharochalasis, a low back disorder, and a right rotator cuff tear due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder was denied, but his claims for increased ratings and total disability rating based on individual unemployability were granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the February 1993 rating decision.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, effective from October 12, 2023.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for his low back disability and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are being remanded for additional development.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation and compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability of his lumbosacral spine was denied as service connection has already been established.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim seeking service connection for a low back disability, which was previously denied in June 1963. The reopened claim is now pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking his chronic urinary tract infections and low back disorder to VA treatment from February 1973 to July 1973.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and to provide a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current low back disability is related to service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues was denied. The cervical spine fracture at C3-4 is rated as noncompensable, and the veteran's other claims were not well-grounded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the severity of the veteran's lumbosacral sprain and to provide an opinion on the etiology of any cervical spine disorder found.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar disc disease warrants a 40 percent evaluation, and his postoperative residuals of a left knee medial meniscus tear warrant a 20 percent evaluation. The TDIU issue is also granted.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder, specifically a disk herniation at L4-5. The appeal is based on evidence showing that the veteran had pain and muscle spasms in his lower back during service, which was diagnosed as low back pain. Post-service medical records confirmed the presence of a narrow intervertebral disk space at L4-L5.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of the veteran's low back disability and left shoulder condition. The veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable evaluation will be reconsidered.

The Board granted an increased evaluation for the appellant's back disorder to 60 percent, effective February 8, 1993. The TDIU rating was granted with an effective date of August 21, 1998.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's low back strain with history of displacement of coccyx, finding that a rating in excess of 40 percent was not warranted based on the evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain warrants a 20 percent evaluation, which is higher than what he was previously granted. The disability currently manifests as pain, some limitation of motion, narrowing of disc space at L-5/S-1 on X-ray, and osteophyte formation.