Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

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 determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbar strain warrants a 10 percent evaluation, reflecting characteristic pain on movement.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the veteran's low back disorder and its effects on his knees. The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected low back disorder.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including additional evidence collection. The appeal is currently pending and will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran's fibromyositis of the lumbar spine with superimposed psychophysiologic musculoskeletal reaction warrants a rating of 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 5292.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and is now remanding the case back to the RO for additional consideration.

The Board has granted the application to reopen a claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The veteran's testimony regarding his post-service symptoms is considered significant in deciding the merits of the claim.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether the veteran's current conditions are related to her active military service. Therefore, service connection is granted for each condition.

The Board denied the claim for an increased rating for low back disorder, but remanded the issue of service connection for a lung disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disorder is not related to his service-connected bilateral knee disability and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for a back disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding service connection for a back disability, including lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, and numbness of the right leg. The case is now remanded for additional consideration.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5292.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current extent of severity of the veteran's dysthymic disorder and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine injury and lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent, respectively.

The veteran's appeal is to be remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will then be returned if necessary.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbosacral spine injury and right scapula fracture, finding that the disability did not meet criteria warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of chronic back disorder in service and insufficient competent medical evidence to establish a connection between the veteran's current back disorder and his period of active duty service. Therefore, service connection for both pes planus and lumbar fusion claimed as back disorder was denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO granted service connection for a scar on the right upper lip but assigned a no percent rating.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic cervical spine disorder and denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with postoperative residuals of disc herniation.