Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to his request for a personal hearing before the Board. Service connection claims for respiratory and back disabilities are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected lumbar spine disc disease with arthritis and bursitis of the left hip. The initial 10 percent evaluation assigned following the grant of service connection for bursitis was found to be proper.

The Board denied service connection for postoperative residuals of a lumbar diskectomy with chronic strain and degenerative changes, finding no evidence of a chronic back disability during active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left leg injury and a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions in service or after service.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending requests for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for completion of requested development and consideration.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disability is related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current low back disability and his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a right foot, low back, and bilateral hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is due to an injury sustained during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in June 1995, and service connection is granted.

The Board has confirmed the denial of the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including low back, left hip, ribs, and neck injuries, are not service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's chronic lumbar sprain and degenerative disc disease with an old herniated disc at the L4-L5 level, finding sufficient evidence to support this determination.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including requesting additional evidence from the U.S. Armed Services Center for Research of Unit Records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to determine if the veteran's back disability is related to service.

The Board has remanded the remaining claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, but has granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for chronic low back pain with degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.

The Board is unable to determine whether the appellant's back, left hip, and/or left leg conditions are related to his service-connected right hip and/or right leg shell fragment wound residuals. The examiner will need to provide a clear opinion on this issue.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for lumbosacral strain and granted it. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a thoracic spine condition is addressed in the REMAND section.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, back disability, and left knee arthritis. The temporary total rating beyond April 30, 2001, was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disability is more likely than not related to his military service, thus granting service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the April 1994 rating decision. The claim is now considered on its merits, but it was not established that a chronic back disorder was present during active service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and granted service connection for bilateral knee disorder. The veteran's claim for higher rating on his service-connected bilateral pes planus was also addressed, with the RO granting a 40 percent evaluation.