Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, including functional impairment and pain. The RO will then review the claim.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his bilateral hearing loss disorder and psychogenic pain disorder, but denied service connection for low back injury residuals and head injury residuals. The low back disability is considered part of an already service-connected condition (psychogenic pain disorder), while the head injury claim lacks sufficient evidence to establish a direct or secondary relationship with service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's low back disorder and confirmed a 20 percent rating. The case was also remanded to restore a 10 percent rating for the period from August 1, 1992 to September 16, 1997.

The veteran's service-connected patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, lumbar muscle sprain, and residuals of a fracture of the right fifth finger have been granted increased ratings. The effective date for these increases is June 2, 1995.

The Board denied an extra-schedular evaluation for the veteran's lumbosacral strain, finding no evidence of marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalizations.

The veteran's back disability has not been shown to warrant a higher evaluation based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's lumbar strain with arthritis, L5-S1, based on findings of slight limited motion and functional loss due to pain.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted with a 10% evaluation, effective from March 4, 1997. Service connection for the skin disorder and low back strain are denied. The clothing allowance claim is also denied.

The Board has granted entitlement to service connection for low back disability, manifested by degenerative changes. The claim of upper back disability is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and found that his back disability was aggravated by his military service with UTARNG. The cardiovascular disorder, including hypertension, is not well grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss did not undergo an increase in severity during service and denied his claim for service connection. For his low back disorder, there was no competent evidence showing a disease or injury incurred in service, leading to denial of service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's back disability results in no more than moderate impairment, and thus did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's back disorder pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran submitted new and material evidence sufficient to reopen his claim, allowing him to receive a disability evaluation for his low back condition effective January 28, 2000.

The Board has found the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and asthma are well-grounded. However, additional VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic low back disability, neck injury, right epididymitis, hypertension with chest pain, dental condition secondary to sinusitis, and asthma secondary to sinusitis are not well-grounded. The evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and active military service.

The Board denied claims for service connection for degenerative disk disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and degenerative disk disease of the cervical spine due to a lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, while his fractures of the ninth and tenth ribs were already rated as noncompensable. The appeal was denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a low back fracture due to new evidence submitted, but further development is needed before a decision can be made on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to incomplete medical records and a need to obtain additional evidence.