Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and thoracic and lumbar spine scoliosis, as well as his claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, were denied by the RO.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and clarification of neurologic symptoms.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and depression, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned.

The veteran's mechanical low back pain with osteoarthritic changes and paresthesias of the left lateral foot were evaluated. The RO granted service connection for these conditions, assigned a 20 percent evaluation for the low back pain prior to May 15, 1998, and increased it to 40 percent effective from that date. The veteran's paresthesias of the left lateral foot are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating of cervical spine condition and service connection for residuals of right ankle sprain, right shoulder strain, left wrist injury, sinusitis/myalgia, and spinal tap. The veteran appealed these decisions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions due to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for residuals of rib fractures, right kidney disorder, and low back disorder. The original denials were based on lack of evidence at the time.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities had increased to warrant a TDIU as of October 29, 1996. The effective date for the grant of entitlement to TDIU is set at this date.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen his claim for service connection of a back disorder.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability due to new and material evidence submitted since April 1997. The case is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 18, 1999 for his nonservice-connected disability pension benefits. The evidence showed that entitlement to these benefits arose on or after March 18, 1999.

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle and low back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and hypertension, but denied service connection for a heart disorder. The rating for hypertension remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus and did not assign a rating for the fractures of the fingers or low back strain. The appeal is considered 'denied' as no new evaluation was granted.

The veteran's appeal was denied on all issues, including increased ratings for a neuropsychiatric disorder and service connection claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, shin splints, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain. The RO assigned the current 10 percent rating since the grant of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of low back pain secondary to his left ankle disability and a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of his left ankle fracture with dislocation and fusion. The veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent disabling.

The Board has granted a 100% evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder, effective prior to May 22, 1998. The issues of an increased rating for the right buttock gunshot wound and service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip and lumbosacral spine are remanded due to conflicting findings and diagnoses.

The veteran's right hip disability and lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes are not service-connected, and his total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied.