Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding no evidence of a chronic disability during service and insufficient evidence linking his current condition to any incident of service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's scoliosis of lumbar spine with spondylosis and spondylolisthesis warrants a 20 percent disability rating, reflecting moderate limitation of motion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar disc disease and major depression, finding that the current manifestations do not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran is seeking restoration of his previously assigned disability ratings for lumbosacral strain and surgical scar due to diskectomy. The RO reduced these ratings, and the Board has determined that further evaluation is necessary before making a decision.

The VA determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain does not warrant a higher initial rating than the current 20 percent assigned since her symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected low back strain, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking his current condition to service. The failure to report for a scheduled VA examination also contributed to the denial.

The veteran's low back injury with herniated disc is rated at 60 percent disabling, and he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a skin disorder, and a back disorder are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for secondary service connection and an increased rating for his service-connected back disorder, finding that there was no medical evidence to support a plausible relationship between the current degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and the service-connected chronic low back pain.

The veteran's mechanical low back pain with disc disease, L4-L5 level is currently rated at 20 percent. The right ear defective hearing is rated as noncompensable (0 percent).

The veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine results in moderate intervertebral disc syndrome with recurring attacks, warranting a 20 percent disability evaluation.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back strain with degenerative joint disease to his military service, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, identified as anxiety disorder, is granted. The Board also grants a 60 percent evaluation for his lumbar spine disorder and finds that he meets the criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a neurological disability of the extremities, including as due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability as secondary to his service-connected right leg disability.,The veteran is entitled to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a wound of the right leg with muscle damage, Muscle Group XI.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability in service or within the presumptive period for undiagnosed illness, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected psychophysiologic musculoskeletal reaction is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and lower extremity weakness is denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.