Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with residuals of L4 and L5 decompression and fusion, but granted a temporary total rating for convalescence due to his back surgery. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the right ilium was denied.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the veteran's mechanical low back pain and separate ratings of 10 percent each for her right and left knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, cervical spine, and left shoulder disabilities are not well-grounded. The claim for increased rating for hysterical neurosis, conversion type is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder was incurred in service and granted service connection. The rating for hypertension remains at 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar syndrome was granted a 40 percent evaluation effective June 1, 1993.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic low back disorder is service-connected, and her left knee strain and arthritis are also service-connected. The claim for residuals of a left femur fracture is not well-grounded as there is no competent evidence of current disability involving the left femur.

The Board has granted a compensable evaluation of 10% for the veteran's residuals of a fractured pelvis and found service connection for his low back disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right elbow disorder secondary to his service-connected residuals of a pelvis fracture. The other claims were not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection are not well grounded for all of his claimed conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between any of these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's alcohol and substance abuse is considered willful misconduct, preventing him from receiving pension benefits. His psychiatric disability, including organic brain disorder, does not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating due to its severity.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, an increased evaluation for his back disability, a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss, and a total compensation rating based on unemployability. The decision also noted that the veteran's combined service-connected evaluation was 60 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's disability, residuals of an injury to the lumbosacral spine with arthritis, does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's service connection claim for a back disability is not well grounded. The low back disorder was rated at 20 percent disabling, and other conditions were also considered in determining pension eligibility. The veteran did not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's low back disability effective from January 15, 1994. The earlier period prior to this date was rated as 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied because there is no evidence that the injury sustained during his VA hospitalization resulted in additional disability from his pre-existing lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of arthritis due to back injury. However, it found no new and material evidence to support this claim or any other issues raised in the appeal.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder to his period of active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and remanded his claims for service connection for left knee disability and increased rating for right knee disability due to new evidence. The RO is instructed to obtain VA medical records, schedule examinations, and review the file for any relevant medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the previous denial in 1970. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20% evaluation.

The veteran's post-traumatic low back dysfunction is rated at 60% and found to be permanently disabling, allowing for non-service connected pension benefits.