Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and a low back disorder. The claim for a right thigh disorder is pending and will be addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for another travel board hearing.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and granted an initial compensable evaluation for migraines, but found no current low back disability. The claim is remanded to obtain relevant private treatment records.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board affirmed the RO's decisions, noting that the veteran did not meet the percentage criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and affording the veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his back condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability was granted, and he is now receiving a 40 percent evaluation. The claims of entitlement to service connection for prostatitis and nonservice-connected disability pension benefits were denied. His application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for prostatitis has been granted.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain, characterized by low back pain, was incurred during his period of active service. However, the degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with right leg radiculopathy or sciatica is not related to his period of active duty and thus denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination applying revised rating criteria, and for notification of VCAA provisions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board has determined that there is no connection between the veteran's current lumbar spine and irritable bowel syndrome conditions and his period of active duty service.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for headaches and compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 (West 2002) for various disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records, lack of proper notice regarding the VCAA requirements, and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back, kidney, and liver disorders due to a lack of in-service disease or injury and a lack of medical nexus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA orthopedic examination and an opinion on whether the veteran's spine disability was aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and severity of the veteran's conditions.

The Board found no causal link between the veteran's current low back disorder and any incident in service, including a reported fall. Degenerative/arthritic changes were first noted decades after discharge.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a back disorder, finding that there was no new evidence to reopen the PTSD claim and denying both claims on their merits.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, and shoulder disabilities are not service-connected. The evidence does not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his active military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded to allow for further development and consideration.