Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied by the RO. The condition is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for left patellofemoral chondromalacia with medial patellar plica, gastrointestinal disorder due to an undiagnosed illness, and skin rash (tinea pedis) are well grounded. The lumbar spine disorder claim is also considered well grounded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and an increased rating for his cervical spine disability. The claim for service connection is not well-grounded, while the claim for an increased rating is well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is not well-grounded because there is no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to service.

The veteran's thoraco-lumbar strain and Morton's neuroma of the left foot were granted initial ratings, while his sleep apnea with tonsillectomy residuals was not rated higher than a non-compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for cold injuries (frostbite) of the hands and lower legs, bilateral, and residuals of a low back injury due to lack of evidence of current disabilities or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5295 (lumbosacral strain), does not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors. The current evaluation is maintained.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss or chronic low back disorder related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for neck and trapezius muscle strain, as well as low back disorder. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability related to these conditions during or after service.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability has been assigned a maximum schedular evaluation of 60 percent. The criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability have also been met.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and reopened the claim based on new evidence. The issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded to the RO.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine effective from December 16, 1998.

The Board found that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability, resulting in denial.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches with nausea and lumbosacral strain due to undiagnosed illness, finding the evidence did not support a well-grounded claim.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disability. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are denied.

The veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits was denied multiple times, and the effective date of his award is set at June 11, 1997.

The Board has reopened the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection of a back disorder and found that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports this claim. The RO will now determine if service connection is warranted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for an upper back disability, residuals of bilateral shoulder surgeries, a psychiatric disability, and a jaw disability (including basal cell carcinoma) are not well grounded. The Board finds that the evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and has reopened the claim to reopen for service connection of low back disability. The veteran's current arthritis is considered to be superimposed on his previously service-connected fracture.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with a right foot drop, effective July 11, 1995.