Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral knee disorders were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected ankle disabilities.

The March 1949 rating decision did not grant a separate disability rating for the veteran's psychiatric condition, which was instead considered part of his physical conditions. The Board found no CUE in this decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for residuals of a low back injury is granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbalgia of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar regions is being remanded due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder on a secondary basis to the veteran's service-connected pes planus. The decision also grants service connection for gout, which is addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The Board has denied service connection for shin splints, foot disorder (pes planus), and hip disorder. Service connection is granted for a low back strain.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further examination and consideration of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with traumatic arthritis and cervical sprain with traumatic arthritis under both old and new rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, consideration of new rating criteria, and a social and industrial survey. The RO will also review the claims file and ensure all necessary notice and development has been undertaken.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability needs further development and is remanded to the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome will be reconsidered after this process.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding no new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to discrepancies in medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's right hip and low back disabilities.

The veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to procedural issues, including the need for VCAA compliance and additional development of evidence.

The Board has granted the appellant's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding new and material evidence.

The Board is remanding the case to ensure proper notification of the provisions of the VCAA and to determine if all evidence needed to consider the claim has been obtained.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain, finding that his symptoms more closely approximated the criteria for this higher evaluation.

The Board denied the claim for an increased rating for service-connected mechanical low back pain with degenerative disc disease, currently evaluated at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability, left hip stress fracture, and psychiatric disorder are all service-connected. The left knee disability is not service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service medical records and personnel records, as well as pertinent medical treatment records from Dr. Jose Ramon Medina.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because his substantive appeal was not timely filed within one year of notification of the March 2000 rating decision and more than six months after issuance of the August 13, 2001 SOC.