Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, attributing the latter to undiagnosed illness during military service. Service connection was not established for fatigue, memory loss, or sleep disorder.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic lumbosacral strain and tinnitus, are sufficiently severe to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The VA determined that the veteran's current low back disability was not related to his service, as there is no evidence linking it to an in-service injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbar and cervical strains, as well as an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for fibromyalgia. The effective date for a 40 percent evaluation for fibromyalgia was set at April 16, 1989.

The Board has determined that the veteran's conditions do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability evaluation, and thus denied his claims.

The veteran's severe arthritis, which was service-connected, substantially contributed to his death from cardiorespiratory arrest.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the claimed conditions, as they are not related to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L5-S1, L4-L5, with spondylosis was denied as there is no evidence to support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and determined that new evidence supports a finding of service connection for cervical, dorsal, and lumbar spine disabilities. These conditions are found to be related to his service-connected right and left clavicle fracture residuals.

The Board has granted a 40% rating for the veteran's low back disorder, which includes degenerative disc disease and postoperative residuals of an L4-L5 herniated disc. The condition produces severe limitation of motion of the lumbar spine.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating for pension purposes was denied. The Board found that he failed to present evidence of a well-grounded claim for service connection for back and lower extremity disabilities under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's low back strain is due to an injury sustained in service and the Board has determined that this condition qualifies for service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's back disorder is not related to his service-connected right ankle disability and therefore denied the claim.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's service-connected low back scar, finding that there was no objective evidence of pain or tenderness associated with the scar and that it did not limit function. The veteran's allegations of occasional sensitivity were found to be less probative than clinical examination findings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected back disability warrants a 40 percent evaluation, and his skull fracture with cephalalgia and conversion reaction warrant a rating of 10 percent. The decision is based on severe degenerative disease in the lumbosacral spine and subjective complaints of headaches.

The Board has determined that the current disability evaluation for chronic low back strain with mild lumbar scoliosis is appropriate at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with arthritis, status post laminectomy warrants a 40 percent disability rating due to severe intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for low back and left shoulder disorders are not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking current conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and residuals of a fracture of the right thumb with numbness, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.