Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's left hip and low back disabilities are not secondary to his service-connected left knee or femur fractures, and thus denied these claims. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left femur fracture is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disorder is service-connected, as it was aggravated by his military service.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and a low back disorder, with the Hearing Officer assigning a 30 percent rating for PTSD but continuing the noncompensable rating for the low back disorder.

The veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development and review in accordance with recent legislation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability is likely due to an injury sustained during his combat service in World War II, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease of the lower lumbar spine with facet joint arthritis, likely had its inception during his active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the cause of the veteran's current back disability and whether it is related to his service. The case will be returned for this purpose.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's lumbar disc disease effective November 4, 1996. The claimant contends that he is entitled to an earlier effective date.

The VA determined that the appellant does not have an employment handicap due to her service-connected low back disability, and thus is not eligible for vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final decision. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and verifying periods of active duty.

The Board has restored the veteran's original 20% evaluation for low back disability, effective from November 1, 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee impairment and her service connection claim for this condition is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for back pain and migraine headaches are also denied as there is no competent evidence of these conditions during or after service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left foot disability, irritable bowel syndrome, back disability, collapsed lung, bronchitis, and a gynecological disorder (claimed as cervicitis with dysplasia).

The veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection based on direct service incurrence.

The veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to multiple physical disabilities, including degenerative intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine, traumatic arthritis of the right ankle joint, reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the right leg and foot, mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, low back disorder, and left hip disorder. The stress fractures of the calcaneus are not productive of any disability.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for the veteran's lumbosacral sprain with pain on motion, finding that it did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection of right knee and low back disabilities, but has reopened the claim for service connection of a left knee disability. The veteran's left knee disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected left lower extremity disability.