Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability did not begin during active service and is not related to any incident of service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for blindness of the left eye and granted it. The other issues on appeal are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right heel disorder, lumbar spine disability, and thoracic spine disability are all related to his active military service. The right shoulder degenerative changes have been rated as non-compensable since April 8, 1994.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hepatitis due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The other issues remain pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that no formal or informal claims were filed prior to July 20, 1998. The effective date of July 20, 1998 was assigned based on the receipt of a claim for compensation for bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis of both knees and granted it, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The issue of whether the veteran's current arthritis is related to his service-connected disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and arranging for a psychiatric examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and PTSD rating are pending.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorder did not begin in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities are pending.

The veteran's arthralgia of the left hip and dysthymia have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that no new and material evidence had been received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder. The Board also determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disorder and granted it, with a 30% rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for his back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a clarification of an October 2003 VA physician's opinion and consideration of new evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection of his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has ordered the RO to verify all periods of service, particularly reserve service and associated medical records. The veteran's claim for service connection for back disability will be remanded for further development.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's claimed conditions and his service, leading to denial of all service connection claims.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The Board determined that the disorders listed on the title page did not result from disease or injury in service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder, which includes traumatic arthritis and degenerative disc disease, warrants a 20 percent evaluation.