Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's claimed back and neck disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine is not related to his service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board granted an increased rating of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and a continued 10 percent disability rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for low back disability. The Board also found that the veteran's current low back disability is at least as likely as not related to an injury sustained in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection of a back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and low back disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder is incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The other issues of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral hip disorder, and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that it was not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left hip and left knee conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran presented new and material evidence to reopen his claims for service connection for a back disorder and a neck disorder. However, due to recent court decisions invalidating certain VA regulations, the case is being remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease and an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, finding no evidence of a relationship between his current conditions and his active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for low back disability effective March 11, 1992 and assigned a 40 percent evaluation.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, finding that it was proximately due to or the result of his service-connected low back conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his back disorder and right shoulder disability. The claim for TDIU remains inextricably intertwined with the increased evaluation claim.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and determined that his cervical spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, was incurred in service. The VA has provided a de novo review of the record.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of revised rating criteria.

The Board determined that the veteran's lumbar discogenic disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred. The fracture of the L1 vertebrae is considered a normal consequence of aging.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of a TDIU, finding that no claim was filed prior to October 6, 1993. The RO granted service connection and assigned a combined disability rating of 60% from March 14, 1994.