Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling an orthopedic examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and severity of the veteran's disabilities. The claims for service connection and increased rating are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for mechanical low back pain.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right arm/shoulder disabilities, finding no evidence of chronic conditions during or within one year after his military service. The claim for headaches due to head injury is pending.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal of the RO's April 1998 denial of increased disability ratings for migraine headaches, tachycardia, gout, tinea pedis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and gastroenteritis due to a lack of timely filed substantive appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's disability rating of 40 percent for lumbar disc disease with sacralization at L-5 is appropriate based on his current symptoms and findings, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's right shoulder, thoracic spine, and lumbosacral spine disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for disabilities of the cervical and lumbosacral spine, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to his current conditions.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his degenerative spondylosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the appellant's postoperative residuals of lumbar disc disease are not related to her service-connected right knee disorder and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for his depressive reaction, lumbar disc disease, or left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for dental disability, refractive error, chronic lumbar sprain, and major depressive disorder. The veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for the veteran's low back disorder and cervical spine disorder, with a medical opinion supporting this determination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar scoliosis with degenerative disc disease, finding that it is not related to his military service.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the veteran's claims, including new examinations and obtaining SSA records. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, T10-11 compression fracture, and bilateral pes planus. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's low back and right knee disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service. His PTSD has been granted with a 100% rating since the effective date of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for bilateral pes planus and service connection for degenerative disc disease of L4-5 with spondylosis, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding service connection for various knee and back disorders, as well as a headache disorder. The case is now remanded for additional evidence collection and examination.