Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board is remanding the case to allow for a new evaluation of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the veteran's claims of service connection for refractive error, back disorder, and left knee disorder. The case is being remanded to provide a VA examination for the left knee disorder and ensure compliance with notification requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's applications to reopen claims of service connection for head injury, low back disorder, and right shoulder disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development and review.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination, in order to determine if the veteran's low back disorder is related to his military service.

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

The Board has determined that an additional VA examination is necessary to address the etiology of the veteran's low back disorder. The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder will be remanded for further action.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now remanded to the RO for specific actions, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging a neurological examination.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence and clarification. The case is now being remanded to the RO for specific actions, including obtaining service medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, and costochondritis. The RO previously denied these claims in April 1993 on the grounds that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen them or establish service connection.

The Board has determined that further development of the case is required due to missing treatment records. The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbosacral strain will be remanded for additional development.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right abdomen and lumbar region. The RO has ordered another VA examination to assess the current severity of this disability, as well as any associated scarring.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of low back disorder, bronchitis, skin disorder as an undiagnosed illness, and joint pain of right elbow, left knee, and bilateral wrists due to an undiagnosed illness. The appeals were not timely filed.

The appellant's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability was granted from February 6, 1995 to July 15, 1997.,His hypertension with renal insufficiency received an increased evaluation to 80 percent disabling effective from February 6, 1995.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his psychiatric and low back disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of new and material information to reopen previously denied claims.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's low back myalgia or sinusitis with his service, and thus denied both claims. The skin condition was rated at 10 percent under the old criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral Morton's Neuroma and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding service connection for various conditions. The case is now remanded for additional evidence collection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has determined that further VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any cervical disorder found to be present, including whether such disorder may be caused by the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of L5-S1.