Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder incurred during active duty for training and assigned an initial compensable rating of 10% for right patella subluxation. The claim for high blood pressure is denied as not well grounded.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a special VA orthopedic examination.

The veteran's low back disorder is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating to 20 percent is warranted based on moderate limitation of motion.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded, and thus denied them.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for ankle and knee pain, low back pain, great toe injuries, and a heart disorder are not well-grounded because there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his periods of active duty.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar disc herniation due to new and material evidence. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the current back disability to any incident of service or his service-connected knee disabilities.

The VA determined that there is no evidence to support a claim for service connection of the veteran's back disability, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's basic eligibility for VA loan guaranty benefits is denied because he did not have the requisite qualifying military service, as his discharge was due to unsuitability for bedwetting rather than a service-connected disability.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for an increased rating to 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there was limitation of motion and pain on motion.

The veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional service medical records. The RO will attempt to secure these records and review them to determine if they can support the veteran's claims.

The Board has denied service connection for left arm pain, right arm pain, leg cramps, and low back pain due to undiagnosed illnesses. The veteran's hypertension claim is pending as additional development is needed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back disorder, granted an increased rating of 20 percent for chronic prostatitis, and denied his other claims. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The veteran is currently receiving a 40 percent evaluation for his service-connected herniated disc disease of the lumbar spine. He contends that this disability is more disabling than what the current rating reflects, citing job loss due to back problems. The RO has ordered another VA examination to assess the severity of his condition and determine if he is entitled to higher ratings based on pain or other functional limitations.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of PTSD, schizophrenia, and low back disability were not well grounded due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for disorders of the lumbar and thoracic spine has been withdrawn by his authorized representative.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back injury residuals, with degenerative disc disease L5-S1, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a thorough review of his treatment history.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain with arthritis is now rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 5293, which corresponds to pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an extraschedular evaluation for his low back disability, finding that the evidence did not warrant submission of this matter to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of the Compensation and Pension Service for assignment of such.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of a left shoulder surgical repair, effective July 1, 2000. The lumbosacral spine disability remains at 60 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain and cervical strain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable schedular criteria.