Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, a low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the appellant's lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder, reopening his claim to reopen service connection for residuals of shell fragment wounds of the back and left arm, and finding that secondary service connection is warranted for the left wrist disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, diarrhea, low back pain, insomnia, and flashbacks as manifestations of undiagnosed illnesses are denied. The Board found that the conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board granted the veteran's service connection for a lower back disability and assigned a 10 percent rating. The right foot disability claim was not addressed as it pertained to an injured left foot.

The Board denied reopening the service connection claims for seborrheic blepharitis and a low back disorder, as well as dismissing the CUE claims on the basis that the veteran had not perfected his appeal of the CUE issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the veteran's chronic right shoulder, thoracic spine, and lumbosacral spine disabilities. The RO must ensure all notification and development action required by VCAA is completed, including obtaining medical records from SSA and reviewing the claims file with a VA physician.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support his contention that he incurred such a condition during military service.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for the service-connected degenerative disc disease, L4-L5, with herniated nucleus pulposus, L5-S1; and also denied entitlement to an effective date, earlier than August 21, 1998, for a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a low back condition that he claims was caused by anesthetic used during his pilonidal cyst surgery in service. He also seeks TDIU based on his current disability. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.