Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, psychiatric disorder, and back disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The new evidence submitted since the previous decisions did not provide sufficient information to reopen any of the claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's low back condition and bilateral knee conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, initial compensable ratings for fractures of the left femur and fibula, and a gunshot wound to the right foot are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of a current disability related to military service or any incident therein.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gout and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not establish a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination of the right shoulder and clarification regarding the veteran's desire for another hearing on his low back claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease. The claim is well-grounded as there is competent medical evidence showing a current disability, an inservice injury or disease, and a link between the two.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected lower back disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent between September 22, 1992 and November 16, 1996.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection of a low back condition. The appellant presented his previous claims, but no new or significant evidence was provided.

The Board found new and material evidence to have been submitted, but the claim remains undecided as it is unclear if the current back disability is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for service connection and assigned initial evaluations of 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome in both knees, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, which is in excess of the current 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for low back disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities, finding that there is no current evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for secondary service connection for a psychiatric disorder was also denied as it is not legally sufficient.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for her mechanical low back pain was granted, with a 20 percent disability evaluation assigned effective December 1993.

The VA has determined that the veteran's low back disability warrants a rating of 40 percent, reflecting moderate to severe limitation of motion and other symptoms.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, but it remains unclear whether the veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The VA has granted a 40% evaluation for the veteran's low back disorder, which is the highest available under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings, finding that his chest pain and low back pain were not shown to be related to service. The anxiety disorder was found to have mild impairment prior to August 21, 1998, but from then on resulted in reduced reliability and productivity. The gunshot wound to the abdomen had no more than moderate muscle injury with post-operative scarring, while the gunshot wound to the back did not show any functional or objective disability.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, meaning there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and finds it well grounded. The claim for service connection for an eye disorder (amblyopia) is denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.