Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and hemorrhoids, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the latter claim. The Board also found that there was insufficient medical evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, claimed as residuals of spinal tap and cyst removal, is well-grounded. The evidence shows that the veteran underwent surgery during his military service for a pilonidal cyst in 1962, which included anesthesia administered via spinal tap. Post-service medical records indicate a current diagnosis of status post pilonidal cyst resection. The Board finds sufficient evidence to connect the current back condition with the inservice surgical procedure.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 10% disability rating. The claims for arthritis of the hands and knees, arthritis of the knees, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic low back strain, and residuals of fractures to three bones of the left foot have all been granted with appropriate disability ratings.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent since September 1, 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral foot disability, and back disability have been denied. The evidence submitted did not meet the criteria to reopen these previously denied claims.

The veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for chronic myositis of the low back muscles and a non-service connected pension are being remanded due to incomplete information and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a right ankle disorder, as well as his claims for low back, left leg/ankle, and right leg/ankle disorders. These conditions are all found to be secondary to the service-connected burn residuals.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy. The Board also found that there was no evidence to support a secondary service connection for depression.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic low back pain, finding that there was no evidence of a permanent aggravation of his pre-existing condition during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if any of the veteran's claimed conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder was incurred during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded, as there was no competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an increased rating for his schizophrenic reaction, but granted him a TDIU rating.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is not well-grounded because there is no medical evidence linking his current back disability to an incident of service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a low back disorder. The additional medical evidence supports the veteran's claim of in-service injury and current disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current severity of the veteran's service-connected low back disorder and other disabilities. The RO will also consider whether vocational rehabilitation benefits have been pursued.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected conditions, including hypertension and right eye disability. The lumbosacral strain claim was partially granted with a 10 percent evaluation from August 30, 1996 to October 30, 1998, and a 40 percent evaluation thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and an increased evaluation for right shoulder scars. The effective date is set at October 31, 2000.