Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which adequately reflects the severity of his condition. The pension claim was also granted.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his right knee disability. The claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals of right knee medial meniscectomy was also denied.

The veteran's arthritis of the left knee and lumbosacral spine have been found to be aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, warranting secondary service connection.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic back disability was not incurred during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and adjudication on the merits due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of pain in the back, hips, knees, and ankles. The veteran's claims are related to service-connected varicose veins.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left shoulder, left knee, and low back disabilities were not well grounded. The claim for an original compensable evaluation for a right ear hearing loss disability was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The case remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded and have granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back condition (spondylolisthesis), but denied service connection for arthritis of the hands and fingers. The claim for tinnitus is inextricably intertwined with the hearing loss issue.

The Board has found the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine well grounded, and thus grants the claim.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted, as he requires care or assistance from his family to manage his disabilities. He is not entitled to special monthly pension at the housebound rate due to additional disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure and an increased evaluation for low back syndrome. The evidence did not support a finding of peripheral neuropathy within weeks or months of exposure to Agent Orange, nor was there sufficient certainty linking the development of peripheral neuropathy to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back strain is causally related to his current herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The veteran's bilateral hip strain and lumbosacral strain are found to be the result of his service-connected residuals of a right femur fracture, warranting service connection. His claim for an increased evaluation is granted.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for cardiovascular disease and increased ratings for chronic ligament strain of the left ankle and bilateral defective hearing. The claim for lumbosacral strain is granted with a 20% rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder and found it well grounded. However, the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for mechanical low back pain and bilateral foot disability, effective from the date of the claim received in January 1992.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a back disorder is not well grounded, and thus denied.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for her service-connected lumbosacral strain has been dismissed as she expressed satisfaction with the current ratings.