Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the appellant's claims for evaluations of his right elbow bursitis and low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of limitation of motion or other impairment warranting a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, and the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for low back pain, finding new and material evidence. The claim remains denied as there are no residuals of frozen feet found on examination.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability evaluation for the appellant's service-connected residuals of right ankle fracture and denied his claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee, and left ankle disorders.

The veteran's claims for secondary service connection have been denied as not well grounded. The RO is required to obtain the names and addresses of all medical care providers who treated the veteran for his disabilities of the left lower extremity since the VA examination in June 1999, and to provide a VA examination by an appropriate specialist to determine the nature and extent of his service connected disabilities of the left lower extremity. The RO must also review the claims file and ensure that all notification and development action required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 is completed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine warrants a 60% disability evaluation, effective from March 17, 1995. The noncompensable disability evaluation for residuals of prostate cancer is denied.

The veteran's current low back condition, including degenerative disc disease and status post herniated nucleus pulposus, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for various conditions, including PTSD, hypertension, and residuals of a head injury. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for heart disability, right lung disability, and kidney stones. Service connection was granted for low back disability due to osteophytes of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 and arachnoiditis, except for a separate rating for arachnoiditis.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability due to new and material evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disorder, but denied service connection for asthma. The veteran's current hearing loss is considered to be related to noise exposure during military service. For the low back disorder, the Board found that there was no clear evidence of injury in service, but accepted the veteran's account of an injury and granted service connection based on a finding of equipoise.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability was increased to a 50 percent rating, effective from the date of original grant. The veteran's PTSD and traumatic amputation were not granted higher ratings.

The Board found no causal relationship between the veteran's current low back disability and his active service or any incident thereof, thus denying service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, including claims for lumbar facet syndrome, scoliosis of the dorsolumbar spine, right and left sacroiliitis, and lumbar spondylosis or degenerative joint disease. The case is remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding his lumbosacral strain and TDIU claims due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the service-connected condition alone prevents him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a June 15, 1988 lumbar injury including degenerative joint disease involving the lumbar spine. The claim for arthritis affecting the shoulders, hips, and ankles is pending.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, postoperative, was granted a 60 percent rating from June 1, 1999. The RO found that his disability warranted this higher evaluation based on severe radiating pain and functional loss due to pain and weakness.

The Board has determined that the veteran's thoraco-lumbosacral strain does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of muscle spasm or significant limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection of arthritis of multiple joints, but it is unclear whether this evidence supports a finding of service connection due to the mixed disposition.