Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a chronic acquired low back disorder and determined that it was incurred in active service.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and asthma, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The veteran is seeking to reopen this previously denied claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral flat feet, finding no evidence of current disabilities. The low back disability claim is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a new VA examination and review of the rating criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability did not have onset during service, is unrelated to any injury or disease therein, and is not etiologically related to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's right knee disorder and low back disorder are both being evaluated.

The RO granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective April 22, 2002. The veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no medical evidence establishing the presence of such a condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to VCAA requirements.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the increase in his service-connected disability evaluations, and he needs a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the service connection of his low back disorder and thoracic spine disability, including consideration of secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an upper body disability, including arthritis. The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether the appellant's claims should be granted on the merits.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder and a mid and low back disorder, finding that the veteran's current conditions were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings were denied as there was no evidence of an increase in disability within one year prior to the date of receipt of his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and remanded the issues of increased evaluations for DDD and osteoarthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee or back disorder, nor any link between service and these conditions. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his anxiety disorder with panic attacks, low back disorder, and seborrheic dermatitis was denied. The current rating for the anxiety disorder is 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic acquired low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected left lower leg and foot disability, and denied an increased rating for residuals of a crush injury and contusion of the left lower leg and foot. The veteran was awarded a partial increase in the rating from 10% to 20%, but remains entitled to further review.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, characterized by degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine, was aggravated during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.