Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the veteran's claims, including service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for left knee disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claim, including a new VA spine examination to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected residuals of a low back injury.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claims regarding whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including post-traumatic stress disorder) and a chronic back disorder are being remanded.

The Board determined that the veteran's current low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, finding that there was no evidence linking her current disability to her military service.

The veteran's bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as patellofemoral syndrome, was incurred during his active service. The Board found sufficient evidence of continuity of symptomatology to connect the current condition with his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that the current evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of compression fracture, spine with chronic lumbosacral strain is inadequate and remanded to provide a new examination under both old and new rating criteria.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 20% for the veteran's low back strain, effective from the date of this decision.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent disabling. The Board denied the claim for a higher evaluation and TDIU due to lack of evidence showing incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and consideration of the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has determined that new examinations are necessary to determine the current status of the veteran's service-connected disabilities, and further development is required in order to comply with VA's notification requirements under the VCAA.

The Board finds that there is a further VA duty to assist the veteran in developing evidence pertinent to his applications to reopen claims for service connection, particularly regarding his left knee, left hip, and low back disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to medical treatment provided at a VA facility from February 1973 to July 1973.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a fractured coccyx, finding that the fall causing this injury was due to his service-connected knee disabilities. The claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, effective December 1, 1998. The bilateral plantar fasciitis remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and the evaluation of residuals from a pilonidal cyst, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to procedural issues and to obtain updated medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and requests for further examination.

The veteran seeks service connection for back disabilities. However, his service medical records are unavailable and presumed lost in a fire at the NPRC. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant treatment records from the Muskogee VAMC.