Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the appellant's claims for service connection were not well grounded and denied them. The back disability was not shown to have been aggravated by INACDUTRA, and there is no medical evidence supporting the other conditions.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for low back disorder and granted a 30 percent evaluation for asthma. The decision is based on the appellant's symptoms and medical records, with no new evidence or changes in criteria.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disability is denied as the evidence does not show that he meets the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines.,The effective date of the 60% rating for the service-connected back disability is set at November 22, 1994. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied because it was not factually ascertainable that the veteran met the criteria for a 60% rating prior to this date.,The effective date of the total disability rating based on individual unemployability is set at November 17, 1998. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied because it was not factually ascertainable that the veteran met the criteria for a total disability rating based on his service-connected disabilities prior to this date.

The Board denied an increased rating for the appellant's lumbosacral strain with fusion from L4-S1, spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis, bulging disc, and Spina Bifida Occulta.

The veteran died in February 1998 and was not buried in a state veterans' cemetery. The VA Regional Office denied the appellant's claim for burial benefits due to lack of eligibility under applicable laws and regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current low back disability and concluded that the appellant's development defect of sacralization of L5 did not result in any residual disability. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints and lumbosacral strain was not well-grounded. The rating for lumbosacral strain was increased to 20 percent, effective July 1993.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and financial assistance, finding that his chronic lumbosacral strain warranted a 40% rating based on severe limitation of motion. The total disability rating claim was also denied.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for a back disorder, finding that the veteran's current condition was not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence submitted since 1974 did not provide new and material information to support this conclusion.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbosacral spine disability and anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, foot disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and skin cancer are not well grounded as there is no competent clinical evidence of a nexus between any current disability and active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and low back disorder. The RO found that there is no evidence to support these claims on a direct basis.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ear disability secondary to radiation exposure during active service is not well grounded due to lack of evidence of such exposure and no current disability. The claims for back, neck, and leg disabilities are also denied as there is insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, increased evaluations for right and left knee disabilities, and an evaluation for post-operative residuals of a fracture of the proximal right humerus with bicep weakness and atrophy. The claims were not well-grounded.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that the veteran's current symptoms warranted this level of disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a private hospitalization and outpatient treatment, finding that no emergency existed at the time of the treatment.

The veteran's claim for a psychiatric disability, including depression, has been found plausible. His low back disability is determined to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The veteran's left knee disability meets the criteria for a 60% evaluation.