Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's claimed left ankle disorder to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for cervical spine arthritis and denied his claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and entitlement to a TDIU rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and for an increased rating for PTSD. The veteran's low back disorder is not related to his military service, and the current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating than the currently assigned 50 percent for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as finding that his current disabilities are not related to his in-service car accident.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic low back disorder and gastrointestinal disorder are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective from the date of claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is related to an injury sustained during service in May 1962, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected low back syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new regulations.

The Board found no evidence of a current back or skin disorder related to the veteran's military service and denied both claims.

The veteran's disability compensation benefits have been terminated due to the divorce of the appellant and the veteran, as an ex-spouse is not a proper claimant for apportionment.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is not related to her active service.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development and evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, and a left leg disability. The decision found no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining pertinent evidence and providing notice under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has determined that the current evaluations for the appellant's low back disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities are not in excess of what is warranted under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 17, 1999 for a Total Disability Evaluation for Compensation Purposes Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The veteran's claim was pending since July 12, 1998 and the RO initially granted TDIU retroactively to that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The veteran is seeking additional vocational rehabilitation training for a degree in physical therapy due to worsening service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that further development, including medical examinations and opinions, is needed before the case can be fully adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and possibly scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right shoulder disabilities are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence of continuity of symptomatology from his discharge and no medical evidence relating his current condition to his active military service.