Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's left knee disability, effective from September 1, 1997. The claim for increased rating of lumbosacral strain is pending and will be addressed in the REMAND portion.

Service connection for a back condition is denied. Service connection for PTSD is granted based on reopening of the claim due to submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee and low back disabilities. It was found that these conditions are causally related to residuals impairment caused by the veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board finds that the RO's decision to increase the veteran's rating for lumbosacral strain from 10 percent to 40 percent, effective April 20, 2001, is not the highest possible rating available under the rating schedule. The appeal continues.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete notification and development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. The veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's spine disabilities were 10 percent disabling more than a year prior to July 27, 1994. Therefore, effective dates of July 27, 1994 are granted for the initial evaluations.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence and clarification. The case is now being remanded back to the RO for the requested development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of back disability, schizophrenia, pes planus, allergies, PTSD, and left knee disability. The decision also determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding service connection for low back, cervical spine, and eczema disabilities. The case is now remanded for additional evidence collection and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for his chronic lumbosacral muscle spasm, both of which were currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and degenerative disk disease of the lumbosacral spine, as well as his claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain. The issues are currently pending due to procedural errors.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and arthritis of the right hip as secondary to her service-connected bilateral pes planus have been denied.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending issues regarding service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal is currently remanded for additional evidence collection.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal due to his withdrawal of the increased rating claims for lumbar spine arthritis, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, left eye injury, and impotency. The issues are now remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, but granted service connection and assigned 10 percent evaluations each for gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia, musculoskeletal low back pain, postoperative scar on the proximal aspect of the left foot, and a left foot disability (classified as status post arthroplasty with pin fixation of the 2nd digit, osteotomy of the 2nd metatarsal, and bunionectomy).

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen her claim of service connection for a back disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability did not begin in service and is not related to any disease or injury incurred during active military service. The claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of supporting evidence for claimed stressors, and the claim for tuberculosis residuals was not addressed as it pertained to a period outside of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between the veteran's current condition and his military service.