Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claim for additional vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31 of Title 38 of the United States Code, finding that she was rehabilitated and did not meet the criteria for reentrance into a rehabilitation program.

The Board found no evidence of a bilateral knee or low back disability in service, and the veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back arthritis is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the veteran's contention that his current condition is related to an in-service pedestrian accident.

The Board has determined that the veteran's combined rating of 80% for service-connected disabilities is not sufficient to warrant a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The VA has granted a 40 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, effective as of September 23, 2002 (the date the revised criteria were implemented).

The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the veteran's claims assistance act of 2000 (VCAA) and will be remanded for further review.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for back disability, concluding that his current condition is not related to any injury or disease in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a lumbar diskectomy are due to his service-connected low back pain and grants this claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorders are not related to his military service and have denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a right knee injury, status post operative repair, anterior cruciate ligament tear. The claim for secondary service connection for right ankle, hip, and low back disorders is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current back disorder, sinus disability, and tingling of the arms and hands. The effective dates for service connection are also being reviewed.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for low back disability and granted a rating of 30% for PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and a foot disability.,Additional development is required before the merits of these reopened claims can be addressed.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder is service-connected and reopened his claim for a skin disorder of the feet based on new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for back and head conditions, finding no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back injury, which manifested during active service, is related to his current condition and grants service connection for residuals of a low back injury.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant or specially adapted housing under 38 U.S.C.A. � 2101(a).

The veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and low back disability, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for various shell fragment wound disabilities, were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not reopen the claim for peripheral neuropathy, and that there was no direct or secondary service connection for the low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if the veteran's current conditions are related to service.