Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The veteran's appeal regarding his cervical spine disability was denied, with the RO maintaining that the disability should be rated at 20 percent for the period prior to November 25, 2002 and at 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is aggravated by his service-connected flat feet, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression without psychotic features was incurred during his period of active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for development and review.

The Board has determined that the evidence received subsequent to the RO's January 1997 and June 1993 decisions is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is directly related to his service-connected left knee disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to clarify the nature of his psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine disability. The appeal is currently pending due to this additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back disability and cervical spine disorder, finding that these conditions are related to injuries sustained during active duty.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The veteran's case will be returned to the RO for these purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to incomplete information and need for additional examinations.

The Board granted a combined 20 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the knees, including consideration of separate ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5003 and 5257. The claim for service connection for a low back disability was also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability, finding that he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for loss of energy due to undiagnosed illness and secondary service connection for back disability. The denial is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent for hiatal hernia, effective from February 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding no competent medical evidence linking his current back problems to any incident in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection were denied. The back disability, appendectomy scars, and tinea pedis conditions did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

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 denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.