Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral knee and low back conditions, but the case has been remanded due to incomplete examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current back disorder is related to service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that his current condition did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for scoliosis of the thoracic and lumbar spine and low back pain, finding no new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine if his right knee and back disabilities were caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for further examination. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral defective hearing, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his lumbar spine disability and for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

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

The Board has granted service connection for right leg radiculitis and radiculopathy as a result of the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board Hearing and other procedural actions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disorder and degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 are related to service, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to several procedural issues, including failure to provide proper VCAA notice and obtain certain records.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability related to service and denied the claim. The heart disease issue is pending as there is insufficient information on its etiology.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic acquired low back disorder, claimed as residuals of injury. The appeal is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for compliance with VCAA notification requirements.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding the veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain. The case is being remanded for additional examination and evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his chronic low back strain and TDIU benefits, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or entitlement to TDIU.