Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's current low back condition. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination or opinion.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection and rating issues, as well as a petition to reopen his right knee injury claim. Additional development is needed including obtaining VA medical records, arranging for an orthopedic examination, and providing the veteran with another opportunity for a hearing.

The Board determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for service connection of a back disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was not incurred during service and denied his claim. The Board also found no evidence to support a finding that the veteran's current head injury residuals were incurred in service, thus denying this claim as well.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back degenerative changes are due to injury sustained during active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1 is not productive of pronounced symptoms, while his right plantar fasciitis is not shown to be productive of more than moderate symptoms. The RO denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's current low back disability is related to his service-connected pes planus or knee disabilities.

The veteran's appeal was denied as the claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability and service connection for a low back condition were both found to be not warranted.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for keloid scars of the left foot and a higher initial rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The veteran's left knee and back conditions are service-connected, with the back condition aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for post-operative residuals due to VA surgical treatment of the left knee is denied.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain syndrome with superimposed degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 effective to October 16, 1995. The claim for service connection for bladder incontinence as secondary to service connected thoracolumbar spine disability is pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis and disc disease, as well as his claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain. The effective date for the grant of P/T was also denied. The TDIU claim was not addressed.

The VA determined that the veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability, degenerative disc disease, is a result of an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the current condition and active duty. The examiner concluded that the appellant's current degenerative arthritis did not stem from her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for further examination. The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability, including pain and degenerative joint disease, is related to his in-service injury. Service connection for these residuals is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's failure to appear for a Travel Board hearing scheduled on September 13, 2004. The appellant was granted an opportunity to present her argument via another BVA Travel Board hearing at her local VA regional office.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of his claims file and consideration of all evidence received since the most recent Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the veteran's service-connected low back disability renders him unemployable.