Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, but he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as he was not rated as totally disabled for a period of at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Board denied service connection for low back and psychiatric disorders as secondary to the service-connected gunshot wound of the right foot.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back strain and cervical spine disability, finding that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 6, 1984 for the assignment of disability ratings and service connection for his shell fragment wounds and lumbar spine condition.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected idiopathic scoliosis of the dorsolumbar spine, currently evaluated at 20 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's additional back disability was not service-connected, as his current condition is unrelated to any issues stemming from his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left eye injury and increased the rating for low back disability to 20 percent effective from August 23, 1999. The claim for an increased rating prior to this date remains pending.

The Board granted a rating of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, finding that it more closely approximates the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability. The current low back disability is related to an injury sustained in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal regarding his dissatisfaction with the initial rating assigned for chronic low back strain and folliculitis decalvans. As such, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected spondylitis with arthralgia in the lumbar spine warrants a 40 percent evaluation, based on severe limitation of motion.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for bilateral hallux valgus and a back disorder were not well-grounded, as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, stomach disorder, back disorder, and labyrinthitis are not well-grounded. As a result, these claims have been denied.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the award of a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability should be November 21, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of low back disability, finding that there was no well-grounded evidence to support his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar strain warrants a disability rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is well grounded. The claim for service connection for an upper back and neck pain is not well grounded. Initial compensable evaluations of 10 percent are granted for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee and right knee, respectively.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain with sacralization of L5, finding that it is productive of severe functional limitation due to pain.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability is not related to his service, and denied both his claim for service connection for a chronic back disability and his request for an increased rating for bilateral iritis. The veteran's iritis has resolved with cataract extraction in one eye.