Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear medical evidence regarding whether the appellant requires regular aid and attendance of another person as a result of his service-connected disabilities. A VA examination is needed to determine this.

The Board found that the veteran's back disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and bilateral hip disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left leg or knee disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims for both conditions are remanded for further development, including an examination to determine if any current back or left leg disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that further action is required to comply with the VA's duty to assist in the development of the veteran's claim, including obtaining an adequate VA examination for her claimed disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorders are not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records related to the veteran's back disorder and its relationship to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information and needs further development before a final decision can be made.

The Board has requested a medical expert opinion and remanded the case for further consideration. The claim will be reconsidered in light of all evidence, including the VA medical opinion dated in December 2001.

The Board found that asthma and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a low back injury and diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and unclear responses from the VA examiner regarding whether the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical and lumbar spine was acquired during or aggravated by his active service.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his low back disability is being remanded due to the invalidation of a regulation that allowed the Board to develop evidence.

The veteran's claims of service connection for right knee sprain, residuals of pneumonia, and depression were granted. The other issues on appeal are not addressed in this decision.

The veteran is seeking increased ratings for his degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining updated medical evidence and scheduling a VA examination, is necessary before deciding these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is required to determine if the veteran's right knee, lumbar spine, and left ankle conditions are proximately due or the result of his service-connected left knee disability.

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

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his low back strain disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration under revised criteria.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder and determined that new evidence received since January 1979 is sufficient to reopen the claim. However, the Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability during active service or after separation from service, and concluded that the current low back disability is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to completion of its appellate review, including obtaining records from private physicians identified by the veteran and previously associated with RWJUMG.