Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that the new evidence submitted is not material.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for a back disability and an increased evaluation for asthma were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking any claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a low back injury are currently manifested by pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome, intermittent lumbar radiculopathy, characteristic low back pain, demonstrable muscle spasm and absent ankle jerk. The criteria for an increased evaluation to 60 percent have been met.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease does not warrant a higher disability rating, as it is currently evaluated at 40 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for educational assistance benefits under chapter 35 of title 38, United States Code. The decision found that the earliest she could have applied was when her husband became permanently and totally disabled in 1992, which is one year before March 4, 1996, when her application was received.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that any inservice back problem was acute and transitory without apparent residuals, and that post-service back problems are not related to service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected lumbosacral disc disease was denied because he failed to report for a required VA spine examination without good cause.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded, and therefore denied.

The VA denied a claim for an increased evaluation of the veteran's lumbosacral strain, currently rated at 40 percent. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on service-connected conditions or other criteria.

The veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his right knee residuals are also rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.

The veteran's hypertension disability is rated at 100 percent, his low back disability is rated as 100 percent, and his rectus muscle hernia disability is also rated at 100 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for cervical pain, frostbite of the hands, and frostbite of the feet. Additionally, the Board remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for lumbosacral strain as well as entitlement to compensable evaluations for appendectomy and residuals of cyst removal, lower lip.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and generalized arthritis are not well-grounded, as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle disability and denied claims for left knee, low back, and left ankle disabilities. The veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that his disability did not warrant such an increase.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing due to his request for such.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder, and this evidence suggests a possible link between an inservice injury in 1957 and the current degenerative disks found in the veteran's spine.

The veteran's service-connected conditions (priapism and low back disorder) do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to their combined effect, as they are rated at 20% and 10%, respectively. The claim is denied.