Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability and left lung injury are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint diseases of the lumbosacral, cervical, and thoracic spines are currently rated at 20 percent each. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of regulatory revisions.

The Board has ordered further development for the claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for a low back disorder, currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The case is now being remanded to the RO for initial consideration and readjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening service connection for various disabilities, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to link these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his thoracic spine disability was denied. His application to reopen a claim of service connection for respiratory disability, including asthma and bronchitis, was granted. Service connection was established for degenerative disc disease at L5-L6 and L6-S1 as secondary to his service-connected thoracic spine disability. However, the veteran's cervical spine disability was not found to be related to or aggravated by his service-connected thoracic spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including consideration of revised criteria for spine disorders and issuance of a VCAA letter.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to incomplete VA records, inadequate VCAA notice, and the need for a VA examination.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities, including a left foot disability, low back disability, cervical spine disability, and residuals of a closed head injury. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain relevant medical records and provide the veteran with an examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back injury is being remanded to allow for a new VA examination and consideration of the case under both old and revised criteria for disabilities of the spine.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The issue is now before the Board to determine if service connection should be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or a lumbar spine disability attributable to active military service and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder. The issue of whether this condition was incurred in or aggravated by service will be further developed.

The Board is unable to decide the claim of PTSD as it is not about service connection. The petition to reopen the claim for contusions of the lumbosacral spine was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if any of the veteran's low back disorders are related to his service-connected right foot disability.

The Board denied service connection for hypertrophic arthritis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease, L5-S1, finding no clear and unmistakable error in their previous decision.

The veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including gastrointestinal disorder, respiratory disorders, skin rash, and mood disorder due to an undiagnosed illness are granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied all service connection claims, including those for skin disorders and other conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder, which was previously denied in November 1970. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities do not warrant increased ratings under the applicable rating criteria.