Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of anterior cervical fusion with diskectomy at C6-7 and degenerative disc disease at C5-7 warrant a rating of 20 percent, reflecting moderate limitation of motion.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for a back and left thigh disability are not well-grounded as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred during his active or inactive duty for training.

The VA determined that there is no medical evidence linking the veteran's lumbar spine disability to his service or any incident therein, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected bipolar disorder and also denied his application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability.

The veteran's low back syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent and effective from May 21, 1998. The RO increased the evaluation from 10 percent to 20 percent in November 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, stress fractures of both lower extremities, a back disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected low back disability is granted, with a current rating of 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with traumatic arthritis and unstable collateral ligament, right meniscectomy. The left knee disability claim was also denied as secondary to the service-connected back and right knee conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's low back and neck conditions do not warrant increased ratings, with the current 20 percent rating for his low back condition and 10 percent rating for his residuals of a neck injury with spurring at C-5 disc level being denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for low back strain with spondylolysis at L-5, finding that his pre-existing condition did not worsen during service.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent since February 9, 1994. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disorder warrants a 40 percent rating, reflecting severe low back disability.

The veteran's nonservice-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board denied an increased rating for recurrent low back pain, maintaining the initial 20 percent disability evaluation.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet criteria warranting a higher evaluation under applicable VA rating codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral arm disorder are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and rating assignments due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as insufficient evidence supporting each claim.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to his military service, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bronchitis and rhinitis were incurred in service, and thus granted service connection for these conditions. The lumbar spine condition claim was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen it.

Prior to December 30, 1999, the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain was rated at 20 percent disabling due to limitation of motion in forward flexion.