Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease, postoperative herniated nucleus pulposus L4-L5 may have been incurred in or aggravated by his military service and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's low back disability, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the current VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not related to her service, and thus denied her claims for service connection.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected low back disability, effective from December 1, 1997 (the day following the veteran's retirement).

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current back condition to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities. The veteran's current complaints of neck and back pain are being considered as secondary to his service-connected right tibial fracture.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic muscular strain of the lumbar spine and assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective November 28, 1995. The veteran's appeal is not about service connection at all.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back strain superimposed on lumbar scoliosis is being remanded to the RO for further consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot condition, PTSD, back condition, prostate condition, and skin condition. The increased rating claim for defective hearing was also denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeal due to returning to active duty, and thus the issues are dismissed.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his service-connected right knee and low back disorders.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and procedural issues, including a requirement for additional development and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's low back strain, finding that it began in service and is related to his military duties.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 was denied by the RO. The case is remanded to allow for further development and consideration of the issue.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected arthritis of the lower dorsal and upper lumbar spine with radiculopathy is being remanded due to compliance issues under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, hypertension, depression, low back strain, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a gunshot wound of the right foot, bayonet wound of the right flank, low back disability, and psychiatric disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability warrants a 40 percent rating, but his hypesthesia of the left lower extremity does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent.