Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder related to service and his left knee, left hip, and back disorders are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left foot disability.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for obtaining records of outpatient treatment and arranging for a VA physician's addendum.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of lumbosacral strain and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for lumbar discogenic disease prior to February 25, 1998 is being remanded due to additional development required by the Veterans Court.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder dislocation and for increased ratings for his chronic low back pain and chronic neck pain. The RO had previously granted service connection for these conditions, but did not assign any specific rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, left ankle fracture residuals, and bronchitis. The evaluations were found to be appropriate based on the clinical findings.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine disability was aggravated during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in April 1994.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back or right shoulder disability during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now being sent back to the RO for an orthopedic examination and a determination on whether the veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected post-operative incisional hernia.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO granted a 40% rating for lumbosacral strain from February 10, 2000.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 22, 1982 for the grant of service connection for residuals of a fracture of the pelvis (claimed as back injury and a broken pelvis).

Your case has been sent back to the Regional Office for further development and consideration of your claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder and a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder and back disorder, finding that new evidence supports reopening of the back disorder claim.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected arthritis of the lumbar spine does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent, as it is productive of severe impairment but no more.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his cervical spine, low back, and left elbow disabilities due to the lack of evidence showing more than slight limitation of motion or other disabling symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical and lumbosacral spine disorders are related to his service, including a 1991 injury during service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board is reopening the claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, including a visual disability, and for a disability of the left ulnar nerve, including post-traumatic numbness of the 4th and 5th digits. Additional development is needed to properly adjudicate these issues.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development of the veteran's medical records and a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his claimed conditions.