Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The VA has determined that the veteran's degenerative lumbar vertebral disease does not warrant a rating higher than 40 percent.

The Board has granted service-connection for a cervical spine disability including degenerative disc disease and coronary artery disease, with a 10 percent rating. Service connection was not granted for the right hip disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability based on aggravation, and assigned a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for cervical myofascial pain syndrome and a 20 percent evaluation for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, both previously rated as 10 percent. The TDIU issue is not before the Board.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of the veteran's lumbosacral strain to 20 percent, effective from June 1998. The cervical spine condition remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for loss of bladder and bowel control are not well grounded as there is no evidence showing a current disability related to service or service-connected low back disability. The claim for residuals of injury to the head, including scarring, is also not well grounded due to lack of credible evidence of such an injury during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are not well grounded. The evidence does not meet the threshold requirement of establishing a plausible claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain and left knee meniscectomy with degenerative changes were denied as the veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has determined that the veteran's seizure disorder and low back disability are not related to service, including any exposure to herbicides or other service events. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The claims for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and both knees are not well-grounded.,The veteran's residuals of a fracture of the left olecranon process and open reduction with limitation of flexion and osteoarthritis of the left elbow is productive of X-ray evidence of arthritis, and objective evidence of pain and limitation of motion. The RO has assigned a 10% rating based on this.,The veteran's service-connected left knee scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as there is no manifestation of pain or limitation of function.

The Board has granted a 40% evaluation for the veteran's service-connected low back disorder, which is the maximum available under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain is not well grounded because he is already at the maximum disability rating under the current criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar disc disease was incurred during active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for meralgia paresthetica of the right thigh, finding that it was incurred as a result of the veteran's active military service. The claim for lumbar disc disease with nerve involvement of the right thigh is denied due to lack of well-grounded evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a rating greater than 40 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability or that new evidence had been submitted to reopen his claim of service connection for a nervous condition.

The Board found that the veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not linked to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for degenerative discogenic disease, effective from the date of the veteran's discharge from service in July 1966. The other issues have not been addressed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for chronic low back disability due to new and material evidence. The veteran's low back disability is found to be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, which was previously granted. Service connection for chronic left hip disability remains denied.