Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The VA Regional Office (RO) denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the left femur, finding that the current disability picture warranted only a 20 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disorder, low back disorder, and eye disorder. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims for low back and eye disorders.

The Board found no evidence of a back disorder in service and concluded that the veteran's current low back pain/strain is not related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were not well grounded, as there was no competent evidence associating any current disabilities with his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a low back disability, as well as his attempts to reopen claims for otitis externa, hepatitis, and bilateral pes planus. The evidence submitted did not meet the criteria for establishing service connection.

The veteran's claim for increased rating of low back strain is denied, and his claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not well-grounded due to lack of corroborated stressors. The current disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5292.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The VA has determined that the current evaluations are appropriate.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation or service connection based on secondary effects.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disorder. The RO denied entitlement to service connection in May 1977, but the veteran submitted additional medical evidence suggesting his condition may be related to service. However, the RO determined this evidence was insufficient to reopen the claim.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective from the date of the June 1992 decision.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 5, 1993, for the grant of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and compression fractures at T-11 and T-12 was denied by the Board.

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

The veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation and a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back condition, finding that it is related to parachute jumps in service and granting secondary service connection for his knee conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to service and denied his claim.

The veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date of July 28, 1994 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities. The veteran's disabilities were rated at 80 percent prior to this decision.

The Board finds the appellant's claim well-grounded and remands for further development of evidence to determine if service connection can be established.

The veteran's disabilities, including a personality disorder and hypertension, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a permanent and total disability rating for non-service-connected pension purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck disability, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, did not develop during service or as a result of any incident in service. The claim is denied.