Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including post traumatic stress disorder and depressive disorder with psychotic features, as well as for disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The reasons are not provided in this text.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his claims for initial compensable evaluations for various orthopedic conditions. The veteran failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in June 2003.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and back disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected knee disorder and these conditions, as well as consideration of new evidence.

The Board has ordered additional development of evidence and the case is being remanded for further review due to procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinea versicolor is very likely related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for additional development before a final decision can be made.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review this case.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and to cure a procedural defect. The veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of a right ankle or low back condition, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral knee bursitis is pending.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO, and then returning it to the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his in-service stressors and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for these conditions was previously denied due to lack of evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected chronic lumbar strain is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and proper application of notice and duty-to-assist provisions.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and will remand the case back to the RO for additional consideration.

The Board found that the veteran's current back problems are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is attributable to service and grants this claim. The low back disorder issue remains pending as no rating or effective date was assigned.

The VA granted service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine disc disease, post operative and assigned a 20 percent evaluation effective October 6, 1998. The veteran is seeking an increased rating.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now being remanded to the RO for specific actions, including requesting clinical treatment reports and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a lumbar spine disorder, as well as the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for impotence resulting from VA treatment.