Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further review, including adjudication of his claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The case will then be returned to the Board if necessary.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spine disability was aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The cervical spine degenerative changes are also found to be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for a left knee disorder (degenerative joint disease). The veteran's right knee disorder is the primary cause of his claimed conditions, but VA found no direct evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen his low back injury claim, and his depression was not related to service or a service-connected disability. His pelvic fracture was rated as noncompensable due to lack of significant impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VCAA notice and the need for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current back disability is related to service.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected gunshot and shrapnel wounds to his left hip and leg have caused or aggravated his degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and left hip.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disability, and arthritis to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral tibia healed stress fractures. However, the claim for peripheral neuropathy of the lower left leg was not granted due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The veteran's cervical and lumbar spondylosis were found to be incurred in service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions. However, the bilateral leg disability was not found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back and hip disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to a fall in service.

The veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining more recent records of his treatment and employment status.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's back disability is related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, a sinus disorder, and a low back disorder. The decision concluded that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and granted a non-compensable rating for pseudofoliculitis barbae. The veteran's current condition of pseudofoliculitis barbae is not related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as it has not been manifested by moderate or severe intervertebral disc syndrome or evidence of incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and low back disorders, finding that new evidence did not warrant reopening of these claims. The right knee disability claim was remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active military service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected injury. The claim for increased evaluation for bilateral foot callosities with osteotomy right first metatarsal and right fifth metatarsal head resection was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability and an initial schedular rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar disc disease with radicular symptoms.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain due to new and material evidence submitted since the May 2000 rating decision. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records from specific Army hospitals and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred as a result of his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not establish a link between any of the conditions and his time in service.