Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, and on de novo review, it is well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are well-grounded and meet the criteria for a 30% evaluation. The claims for fibromyalgia and residuals of a neck injury (including DDD of the cervical spine) have been granted.

The VA has denied increased evaluations for the veteran's left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar strain.

The Board found no current residual disability associated with the service connected low back strain and denied an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder and a skin disorder are well-grounded. The claim for a back disorder is granted, while the claim for a skin disorder remains pending.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a back disorder is not well grounded because there is no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to an incident of service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic low back strain warrants a 40 percent disability rating, which is the maximum schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5295 for lumbosacral strain with severe limitation of motion.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for a low back disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, examinations, and consideration of secondary service connection.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for a keloid scar at the sternal plate is denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The issue of service connection for a back disability remains pending and may be reopened based on new evidence.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for back disability. The case was remanded by the Board in March 1997, but the RO reopened the claim based on Hodge v. West (155 F.3d 1356). The RO denied the reopened claim.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, COPD, neck injury residuals, lumbar strain, chronic non-specific dermatitis, and scars from cervical traction have been granted. The effective date for the COPD rating increase is April 30, 1998.

The VA determined that the veteran's cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities do not warrant evaluations in excess of 10 percent or restoration to a 20 percent evaluation, respectively.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected lower back pain with degenerative disc disease is granted, effective from January 10, 1996. The claim for an increased rating prior to that date remains denied.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's lumbosacral strain with arthritis, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to his period of active duty.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, which is more than the current 40 percent rating.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, but notes that this decision is based on incorrect information and requests additional records to be obtained. The case is remanded for further development.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, which is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the claim.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of a low back disorder, but did not specify whether some issues were granted or denied.