Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's right hip disability is currently rated as 90 percent disabling. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, evaluated as 10 percent disabling, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including orthopedic and neurologic examinations.

The VA Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain is manifested by characteristic pain on motion, fatigability, weakness, and spasm. The disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical degenerative disc disease, with a rating of 20 percent. The veteran is now eligible to receive attorney fees based on past-due benefits resulting from this decision.

The Board found no competent evidence of a current chronic low back disorder and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including spondylolisthesis of L5 and lumbosacral strain, is not well grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder is related to his service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted increased disability ratings for the veteran's shell fragment wound of the left lumbar area and partial paralysis of the left lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, with a rating of 40 percent for each condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and low back disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability, hypertension, or a chronic eye disability in service. The veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection was not addressed, while the claims for increased ratings were both denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants secondary service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of the veteran's thoracolumbar strain from noncompensable to 20 percent. The claim for reopening his service connection claim for head injury residuals was also granted.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct further examinations.

The Board has dismissed the claims for increased initial ratings for hiatal hernia and migraine headaches, as well as entitlement to service connection for injury to the right leg, exposure to asbestos, exposure to Chernobyl (ionizing radiation), and arthritis of the wrists and elbows due to a failure to timely file a substantive appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of current disability or a relationship to service.