Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has granted the application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine, and remanded the reopened claim for further evidentiary development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in the notification provided by the RO.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and other legal requirements.

The veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted, but the assigned disability ratings are not as favorable as requested. The initial compensable ratings were denied in several cases.

The Board found that the veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that there is no current left hand disorder and denied the claim of service connection for a left hand disorder. The issue of service connection for PTSD was not resolved as it remains pending due to procedural confusion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of the evidence, including verification of service dates and VA examinations. The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are pending.

The veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent evaluation. The evidence received since the October 1985 decision is new and material, reopening his claim for service connection of a back disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disorders as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed back, ankle, foot disabilities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine with arthritis is being remanded due to procedural errors and the need to consider revised rating criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, PTSD, a low back disorder, and a lung disorder claimed as lung scarring. The claim to reopen a throat disorder was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a pulmonary function test and considering whether the veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder bursitis, ear disability, sinus disability, low back disability (to include arthritis), and neck disability. Service connection was granted for bursitis of the right shoulder.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's chronic lumbar spine disorder with left foot drop.

The Board has decided in favor of the veteran, granting service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case to allow for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including SSA records and a VA skin examination.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder did not result from an in-service injury and is not otherwise due to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any low back, hip, knee, or pes planus disability that might be present.