Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for back and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The veteran's claims were not reopened.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in March 1972. New evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim, and it is determined that hypertension and heart disease are not related to service or any service-connected disability. The veteran's low back strain with degenerative joint and disc disease is rated at 40 percent since March 29, 1993.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 40 percent for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, effective April 10, 1997. The bipolar disorder with psychotic features is also rated at 30 percent, effective April 10, 1997.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder and an increased evaluation for her back pain of the thoracolumbar spine were denied. The RO was directed to obtain additional medical records, conduct further examinations, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his chronic low back strain and right shoulder disorder, with a rating of 20 percent each.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for a low back disability on secondary basis, and service connection for a left shoulder disability were denied as not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for loss of sexual function secondary to a shrapnel wound of the penis. The issue of whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen his claims for PTSD and back disorder remains unresolved.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was not well-grounded due to a lack of competent medical evidence showing a relationship between any current disability and exposure to radiation during his VA hospitalization from October 1959 to November 1960.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is well-grounded and grants the claim, finding additional disability in his low back as a result of surgeries performed at VA facilities.

The Board denied service connection for idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis and a compensable evaluation for the residuals of a fracture of the transverse processes of the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebrae, finding that these conditions did not arise from service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disorder, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5292 or 5293.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a permanent and total rating for pension purposes was denied as his disabilities did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The veteran's major depression and cervical spine disability were granted increased ratings, with the latter effective September 3, 1996.

The Board has granted an initial 40 percent evaluation for the service-connected low back arthritis, effective from November 25, 1996. The disability is rated as a severe limitation of function of the lumbar spine.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident of service origin.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and multiple sclerosis due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claims of service connection for a low back disorder and headaches, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the final November 1994 RO decision.

The Board found that the veteran's current back condition is not related to her active service and denied her claim for service connection. The issue of a higher original evaluation for her left ankle sprain was also considered, but no rating assigned as it was an original evaluation.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional actions including a hearing, clarification of service connection issues, and investigation into the authenticity of submitted medical records.