Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including an orthopedic examination and re-adjudication of his low back disability claim. The appeal is currently remanded for additional development.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for thoracic and lumbar spine disorders as secondary to service-connected shell fragment wounds of the abdomen, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome was granted, with a current evaluation of 60 percent. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining additional medical records. The appeal is currently remanded for this purpose.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is being remanded for further evaluation of his low back disability and its impact on his employability.

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

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending issues regarding service connection for left knee and back disorders. The appeal is currently remanded for additional development of medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims regarding effective dates and ratings for his service-connected knee and back conditions, as well as a claim to reopen a hypertension secondary to his right knee injury.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further action regarding increased ratings and secondary service connection claims due to incomplete information and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board granted service connection for post-traumatic degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and exostoses of the lumbar spine, both linked to active service. The issues of skin cancers as secondary to Agent Orange exposure and an increased disability rating for a right inguinal hernia remain pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses for any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection cannot be granted. The claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to February 23, 2000 rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his physical incapacity.

The Board denied the reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection for low back disability, finding no new and material evidence to support the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine arthritis, finding no evidence of a low back injury or arthritis during service and insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back condition has been denied by the RO.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claim for a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability was denied as he had full-time employment prior to January 30, 1998 and the effective date of his 100% disability rating for back disorder from January 30, 1998 to January 31, 1999 precluded a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found insufficient evidence to establish service connection for the veteran's back condition, as there was no current diagnosis and no competent evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 17, 2001, for service connection of lumbosacral strain due to failure to report for a VA examination and insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder, major depression, was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.