Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for his back disability, finding no legal entitlement to earlier effective dates.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, a cervical spine disorder, shoulder condition, and back disorder. The evidence did not demonstrate that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for a low back disability. The Board has remanded the case to allow for further development and consideration by the RO.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the veteran's low back disability. The RO will also consider the claim under both old and new rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge.

The veteran's request for a travel board hearing has been granted, and he must be given the opportunity to appear before a traveling member of the Board at the New York RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertensive cardiovascular disease and spondylolisthesis of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for low back syndrome with degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, which was previously denied in May 1972. The decision is granted.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his ankylosing spondylosis of the lumbar, cervical, and thoracic spine as well as for a dilated aortic root. The veteran's service-connected conditions are rated based on their current manifestations.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and shin splints, and awarded a 50% evaluation for bilateral pes planus. Service connection was denied for gout and residuals of a right foot fracture.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to procedural issues and to consider new evidence.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected low back strain, currently rated at 20 percent. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine DJD, finding that it is not related to his military service or his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for the veteran's spondylosis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective January 27, 2001. The previous ratings were 10 percent prior to March 16, 1999 and 20 percent from March 16, 1999 to January 27, 2001.

The Board has determined that the appellant's low back disability is related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be decided, including obtaining service medical records and verifying the veteran's reserve military service. The claim for service connection will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing Social Security Administration records and other notification requirements.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability, characterized by moderate symptomatology including pain and functional loss, warrants a 20 percent rating under the old criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome.