Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and the need for additional examinations. The veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for compliance with VCAA requirements and further development of evidence, including a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence linking the current disability to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for traumatic osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine is being remanded due to changes in rating criteria and additional evidence.

The Board has ordered additional development of the evidence due to incomplete information and unverified service records. The appellant seeks service connection for various disabilities, but his claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, effective April 1, 1992.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine. The effective date for the increased rating was not granted.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings and an earlier effective date were denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date allowable by law is June 10, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a low back injury, finding that the veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury. Service connection for residuals of a neck injury was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is not service connected as secondary to his service-connected residuals of left lateral meniscectomy with traumatic arthritis.

The case is being remanded for additional VA treatment records, a neurology evaluation, and consideration of amended rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are service-connected due to exposure to Agent Orange. Depression is not service-connected.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA medical records and ensuring all notification and development action required by the VCAA are fully complied with.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, including whether they are related to service or pre-existing post-polio syndrome.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder did not have its onset during service or result from disease or injury in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and DIC pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death.

The Board is remanding the case for compliance with VCAA requirements and to consider the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected conditions, including a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.