Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for various joint and spine conditions, as well as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, are pending.

The Board has determined that further evidence development is needed and the case is being remanded to the RO for review.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and a separate 40 percent rating for his cervical spine disability, both effective since November 1, 1988.

The Board has directed the RO to verify the appellant's service in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard and to develop other evidence identified by the appellant. The case is now being remanded for further development of this evidence.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for left shoulder bursitis, but denied increased ratings for the low back disorder and prostatitis with benign prostatic hypertrophy.

The VA denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected low back disorder and postoperative residuals of liver injury with cholecystectomy, finding that the current disability evaluations adequately reflect his symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for myositis of the lumbar paravertebral muscles and rhinosinusitis, both currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's low back disability. The veteran is requested to provide information about his treatment, including from a private physician who treated him in late 1996 or early 1997.

The Board denied service connection for a back injury, finding no credible evidence linking the current disability to service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for her cervical spine disorder and lumbosacral strain, both rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with spondylosis, 4th lumbar vertebra is rated at 60 percent disabling. The RO increased the evaluation for arthritis of the right and left knees to 10 percent each effective December 16, 1996. The veteran's claim for higher evaluations for instability of his knees was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 is related to his injury in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left leg amputation, neck injury residuals, and back disability due to lack of evidence showing that these conditions are related to his service-connected skin disabilities.

The Board finds that the veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, was incurred during a period of Reserve duty. As such, service connection is granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need to comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and other requirements.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further development and review of the evidence in order to determine if an increased rating for lumbosacral strain should be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining specific service medical records and ensuring all notification and development actions are fully complied with.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his military service and his current condition.

The veteran's Tietze's Syndrome (Costochondritis) is currently rated as noncompensably disabling. The Board has determined that the current evidence supports a 10% rating for this condition, effective from December 1996.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a higher rating of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with lumbar disc disease was granted, and he is now receiving the maximum disability evaluation. The TDIU claim was also granted as of November 13, 1998.