Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical examinations and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for minor degenerative disc disease and depression due to incomplete development of the record.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current back and neck disabilities to service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and further medical examinations are required. The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, fibromyalgia, and a low back disability will be reconsidered after all necessary steps have been taken.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensable ratings for sleep apnea, low back disorder (lumbosacral strain), and sinusitis. The disabilities were found to be asymptomatic or with slight subjective symptoms only.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and sinus disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. Service connection for prostate cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a chronic acquired disorder of the right knee and an initial compensable evaluation for mechanical low back pain, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's chronic lumbar strain was incurred in service and granted service connection. However, the herniated disc and radiculopathy are not related to service and were not granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain with ankylosis is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration under new criteria.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of recent treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before the claim can be adjudicated, including notifying the veteran of new rating criteria and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability did not develop during service and is not related to any in-service injury or disease. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and chronic low back pain, is not proximately due to or a consequence of his service-connected left leg disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back injury is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in VCAA notice and for additional development of the claims.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected right hip disorder.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability. The claim is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of brain stem poisoning and related low back disorder, finding no evidence to support these conditions in service or due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine. The veteran's right lower extremity disability and cervical spine disability are also found to be related to service, but further development is needed as there is ambiguity regarding their specific nature.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left ankle disability and service connection for bilateral hip, low back, and right leg disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence of ankylosis or other functional impairment warranting a higher rating than 20 percent. For the service connection claims, the Board determined that the veteran's current hip, low back, and right leg disabilities were not proximately due to his left ankle disability.