Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is related to service, and thus granted service connection.,Regarding the back injury claim, the Board found no evidence linking it to service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% evaluation of tinnitus has been granted, and the effective date is set at January 31, 2001.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical radiculopathy with degenerative joint disease, finding that it is a qualifying chronic disability presumed to have been incurred as a result of service within one year from the date of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to further development being required before deciding this claim, including obtaining additional evidence and scheduling a hearing for the veteran.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and awarded a 10 percent evaluation, effective from December 20th, 2001. The appeal regarding the low back disability was addressed separately.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral knee and low back disabilities did not pre-exist service, but were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for VCAA compliance and initial consideration of new medical evidence. The claim will be reconsidered based on the additional information provided.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder prior to July 26, 1999. The maximum allowable under the revised criteria at that time.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's low back disability prior to September 28, 2000. The issue of a higher rating after that date is pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability. The psychiatric disability is presumed due to its onset within one year of discharge from service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, psychiatric disorder claimed as secondary to tinnitus, and stomach condition. The decision also noted that evidence submitted since June 1999 was not new and material.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back strain warrants a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability warrants a rating of 50 percent effective September 23, 2002.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation of his service-connected spina bifida occulta at S-1 with low back strain and a TDIU due to incomplete development, including scheduling of VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal regarding the propriety of reducing his rating for lumbosacral spine arthritis to 20 percent, effective July 1, 2001. The claim for a current rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral spine arthritis was also denied.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection of his back disability as secondary to his service-connected vertigo.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the low back and service connection for knots on the stomach, back, and base of the neck (claimed as related to exposure to herbicides). The veteran's low back disorder is not considered service-connected. The knots are found to be secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination, consideration of new regulations, and further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case on claims related to PTSD and peripheral neuropathy, as well as clarification regarding his preference for hearing type.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and the residuals of his May 1981 motorcycle accident, finding that there was no causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.