Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a change in law and because of new evidence obtained by the Board.

The Board found that the veteran's left ankle disability, kidney disability, bilateral foot disability, and back disability were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his lumbar spine disability.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his residuals of pilonidal cystectomy was granted, with a current evaluation of 10 percent.,Service connection for back disability was denied as not well grounded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records related to the veteran's feet and back disabilities, scheduling a VA examination, and considering the claims in light of any new evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his hearing loss and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation at any time.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and a back condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claims.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities, as they do not render him helpless or require assistance with daily activities.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to be incurred in service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The other claims of service connection are also granted.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a low back, bilateral ankle, hip, or knee disability related to his service or a service-connected condition. The varicose veins of the right leg are rated at 20% prior to October 17, 2002.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have an acquired low back disability, a neck disability including nerve damage, or an eye disability related to military service. The compensable evaluation for his traumatic cyst of the right epididymis is also denied.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of appellant's spinal stenosis and whether it is secondary to his service-connected left ankle injury. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The veteran seeks service connection for a low back disability, which he claims is residual to an in-service gunshot wound. The Board has remanded the case for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current severity of the veteran's service-connected cervical spine and right knee disorders.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed back disorder, right hip disorder, right knee disorder, right leg disorder, psychiatric disorder, and blistered penis disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability. The issue remains undecided as some issues may be granted while others are not.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for low back strain as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, concluding that there is no nexus between his current condition and active duty service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right foot fracture was not shown to warrant a higher rating, the eyes scars did not meet criteria for a compensable rating, and there is no evidence of degenerative arthritis or respiratory disorder related to active service.