Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including requesting clarification from the veteran regarding medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The appeal is currently pending due to the need for additional evidence.

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 an orthopedic examination to determine if the veteran has a current chronic low back disability related to his service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current heart condition and back disability are not related to his military service, including a fall in October 1958. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral injury with spondylosis of L5-S1.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder but denied it on the merits. The case is being remanded to ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and a left knee disorder have been denied due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions as being related to her military service.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination to evaluate the severity of intervertebral disc syndrome under both old and new criteria.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant and his representative have withdrawn the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine had its onset during his second period of active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and right knee disorder. The evidence does not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his active military service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability did not cause his current low back disorder, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The VA has determined that the veteran's sacroiliac strain with low back traumatic degenerative joint disease does not warrant an evaluation in excess of the current 40 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance as there was no evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities caused him to wear or use a prosthetic appliance that tended to wear out his clothing, or that he used medication due to a service-connected skin condition that irreparably damaged his outergarments.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and bilateral shoulder disabilities were denied by the RO. The case is remanded to obtain updated medical records and conduct further examinations.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a neck disorder and low back disorder has been granted. The decision also indicates that the veteran withdrew his appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found that the veteran's current hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service. The other claims are pending further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine disorder, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board found no evidence of a current back disorder and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to her service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.