Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the appellant's claims, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether any of the veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected left ankle disability. Service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the service-connected residuals of gunshot wounds, left ankle, is established.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support his contention that he developed this condition during or as a result of military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and arthritis of the lumbar spine are being remanded due to a need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The increased evaluations for migraine headaches and sinusitis remain unchanged.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for back strain with degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under relevant diagnostic codes.

The Board dismissed the claims of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and for skin cancer and a rash on the feet due to lack of timely appeal. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis in accordance with DSM-IV.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain disability warranted a 40 percent rating, but denied service connection for his right hip disability. The RO has not yet considered whether additional notification or development is required under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that it was secondary to his service-connected ilioinguinal/femoral nerve problems. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for a back disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's low back disorder, effective October 22, 1997.

The veteran's service-connected conditions, including patellofemoral syndrome and tendinitis of the knees, chronic lumbosacral strain, and bilateral pes planus, are currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling.

The Board has denied increased ratings for chronic lumbar syndrome and bilateral hearing loss, but granted the veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for hypertension and heart disease due to radiation exposure. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his chronic lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing.

The Board found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen claims for service connection for post-traumatic neurosis and lumbosacral strain, but denied the claim for post-traumatic neurosis due to lack of pre-service diagnosis. Service connection was granted for lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, reflecting severe impairment with demonstrable limitation of motion and marked functional loss due to pain.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability is rated at a maximum of 60 percent, the highest schedular rating available under VA guidelines.