Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the May 2000 decision.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear evidence regarding his Gulf War Syndrome and related symptoms, as well as his back and neck disorders. The RO is instructed to ensure all necessary development is completed before readjudicating the claims.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability claimed as secondary to the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound to the right leg, Muscle Group XII, due to lack of medical evidence supporting a relationship between the two conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a skin condition, lymphatic filariasis, gastrointestinal disorder, numbness of the legs and arms, left knee disability, migraine headaches, and low back disability. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for several conditions, including arthritis, anxiety disorder, peptic ulcer and gall bladder disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic sinus disability, chronic back disability, breast disorder, and eye disorder. The decision is based on direct evidence of a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 4, 1999 for the grant of TDIU due to lack of evidence showing he was unemployable by his service-connected disabilities before that date.

The veteran's service connection claims are being remanded due to conflicting information regarding her dates and nature of service. Further clarification is needed before the Board can make a determination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and right leg and foot disability, as new and material evidence has been submitted. The psychiatric disability claim remains pending.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the amended rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The RO found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his previously denied gastrointestinal disability claim, and the denial of hepatitis was final.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability. The appellant's pre-service history of low back problems due to a congenital shortening of the left lower extremity, combined with possible aggravation during service, supported the reopening of the claim.

The veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is presumed to have been incurred in service. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches and the evaluation of low back disability are granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, claimed as low back pain with left hip pain and numbness, is being remanded due to a need to inform him that evidence showing his current diagnosis has been ongoing since service is needed.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine were manifested primarily by significant daily lumbar stiffness, tenderness, and pain as of September 23, 2002. The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for these conditions before that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, earaches, back disorder, fatigue, memory loss, joint pain, nervousness and dreams, weakness, skin rashes, chest pain, blurred vision, neck stiffness, and sinus symptoms as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected low back disorder and denied the veteran's claim.