Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board denied service connection for low back and right hip disabilities, but granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to the veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's musculoskeletal strain of the low back, manifested by L5 spondylolysis with minimal spondylolisthesis, finding that chronicity in service or continuity after discharge is shown.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's low back disability. The RO is also instructed to consider whether an extraschedular evaluation or a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are warranted.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and residuals of low back injury as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's period of active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to determine if his neck disability is secondary to his service-connected back disability. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability will also be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and denied an increased evaluation for the right leg deformity. The veteran's low back disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected right leg deformity, which was previously denied but reopened due to new evidence.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, right knee, and cervical spine with neck spasms as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a low back injury, but has not determined whether this condition is related to his military service.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's back disorder, including whether it is congenital or acquired.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims, including PTSD, low back disability, right leg disability, and reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case to determine the earliest possible effective date for a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, based on all available evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to procedural and evidentiary development needs.

The Board has received notification from the appellant that they wish to withdraw their appeal, leading to its dismissal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right knee, back, and ulnar neuropathy of the right wrist and arm disabilities secondary to a left knee disability. However, the decision on whether these conditions are service-connected remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the current disability ratings were appropriate under both the former and revised criteria.

The Board found no objective indications of chronic disability for the claimed conditions and concluded that they were not incurred or aggravated in active military service nor may they be presumed to be related to such service or symptoms of undiagnosed illness related to service in Southwest Asia.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence of current residuals from an in-service injury and no etiological relationship to his service-connected left knee condition.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence showing that the veteran's bursitis and lumbar spine disorders or arthritis are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound to the right hip warrant a 50 percent evaluation, reflecting severe impairment.