Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, headaches, and a back disorder. The appeals are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar strain did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's cardiovascular disability, brain injury residuals, cervical spine disability, lumbosacral spine disability, bilateral shoulder and foot disabilities, chest pains, and hearing loss were not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a back disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability was denied as the condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including status-post L5-S1 discectomy with low back pain, is related to his in-service injury and thus service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a chronic acquired low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's right sensory neuropathy of the sciatic nerve with lumbosacral strain is rated at 20 percent, effective from its effective date of service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations. The issues include service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of the veteran's lumbosacral strain.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis of the lumbar spine, with limited motion. However, further development is needed before deciding on the merits of the reopened claim.

The case is being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notification and development.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a right knee disability, finding that these conditions were not caused by or aggravated by the veteran's active service.,Service connection was also denied for prostate cancer residuals, with the effective date set at September 1, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed chronic cervical, lumbar, and shoulder disorders are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease leading to current disabilities.

The veteran's skin condition is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that there are no new or material issues to reopen his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection in various areas, including psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), back disability, stomach disability, auditory hallucinations, and allergies. The appeals were based on new evidence submitted by the veteran.

The Board found no evidence of a low back injury during service and concluded that the veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a VA examination to determine current diagnoses and etiology of cervical spine, back disability, and headaches.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records from various VA facilities and the Surgeon General's Office.

The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected low back strain with spondylolisthesis at L4-5 is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice and the need for a VA medical examination.