Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for multiple-joint arthralgia and service connection for gastrointestinal disorders and residuals of a low back strain, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination. The appeal is remanded to determine if the veteran's current low back disorders are related to military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims of service connection for upper back disorder, lower back disorder, and arthritis. The claim for foot fungus was also denied.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed low back disability and dizziness. The appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board found that the evidence did not relate the veteran's low back disorder to his military service or any incident thereof, and thus denied his claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder.

The veteran's bilateral pes cavus with metatarsal callosities is granted a rating of 30 percent, and service connection for back, knee, and shoulder disorders due to the service-connected bilateral claw feet is also granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA spine examination and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating, finding that his conditions are mostly age-related degenerative polyarthritis rather than rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is secondary to his service-connected organic brain syndrome, warranting service connection. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a right shoulder disorder as being related to his service-connected condition.

The VA has granted service connection for residuals of frostbite, but denied the veteran's claims for tinnitus and lumbar disc disease with spinal arachnoiditis. The RO is instructed to attempt to obtain medical records from various healthcare providers and schedule a VA examination.

The veteran withdrew their appeal for increased evaluations of both service-connected conditions.

The Board finds that there is no evidence of a low back or right knee disability during military service, and the preponderance of the competent medical evidence does not support a finding that current disabilities are related to such service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and to reopen his service connection claims, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further evaluation and consideration of the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected compression fracture of L2 of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for low back strain with degenerative disc disease and bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of these conditions.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and the need for additional evidence. The case is now remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to the veteran's service-connected residuals of a compound, comminuted fracture of the right tibia and a simple fracture of the right fibula. The claim for increased rating remains pending.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence and clarification. The case is now remanded to the RO for development of medical records and examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected low back strain, currently rated at 20 percent. The issue of service connection for herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine is also pending.