Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected back disability, manifested by mild-to-moderate limitation of motion and severe degenerative joint disease with no tenderness or discomfort on range of motion, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability due to new and material evidence, but it is unclear whether the condition is related to service. The case will be remanded for further examination.

The veteran's neck disability is granted, and his left knee, lumbosacral strain, right wrist, and right shoulder disabilities are each rated at the minimum of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an anal fistula and back disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's low back and right knee disabilities, as well as a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the veteran's back disability, finding that the current evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on residuals of a fractured vertebra or complete bony fixation (ankylosis) of the spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an injury to the lumbar spine, cholesterol ratio imbalance, and residuals of a vasectomy, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions were related to his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current hearing loss or back disorder to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current neurological disorder, including polyneuropathy and a low back condition, did not begin in service or due to his service-connected brucellosis. The medical evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability evaluation for the service-connected lumbar syndrome, post operative diskectomy and laminectomy of L4-5 and L5-S1, finding that it meets the criteria for pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic low back pain does not warrant a disability rating greater than 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia and a higher evaluation for lumbar spinal stenosis of L4-5, with pars deficit at right L5. The decision found that there was no current diagnosis of hyperlipidemia and that the evidence did not support a finding of disability related to service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected foot disabilities and anxiety reaction with headaches have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is due to an injury sustained during service, and thus grants service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for mechanical low back pain, history of cervical strain, and hypertension with mitral valve prolapse as there was no evidence showing more than slight limitation of motion or severe limitation of motion. The current disability ratings were found to be appropriate.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine to his service-connected right ankle disability, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease, L4-5 and L5-S1, with degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and addressing whether extra-schedular or separate ratings are warranted.

The Board found no evidence that the appellant's current conditions were caused by VA treatment between 1986 and 1991, thus denying his claims under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found that there was no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in the January 1975 and June 1981 rating decisions that continued a 10 percent disability evaluation for lumbosacral strain.