Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that further evidentiary development is necessary, including obtaining the veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) records and scheduling him for a VA medical examination to determine if his current back disorders are related to service or any incident therein.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations and readjudication of her claims.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation by reason of being housebound was denied as he does not meet the threshold criteria of having a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disorder. The RO denied this claim, but the case is now remanded to provide further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to receipt of new evidence after a Statement of the Case was issued.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of the veteran's claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule the veteran for a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for service-connected multiple arthralgia with low back pain is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims file, including consideration of new medical evidence.

The veteran's headaches are rated at the highest schedular evaluation of 50 percent, effective from the date service connection was granted. The right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities each receive a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking them to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for migraine headaches and a back disorder, as well as his claim for service connection for passive-aggressive personality disorder (schizotypal personality disorder). The RO determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease was granted, and he is now receiving a 40 percent disability rating effective from December 19, 1997.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The headaches claim is denied as the evidence does not show characteristic prostrating attacks, while the low back and neck disability claims are based on the current rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of fusion of the lumbar spine warrant a 60 percent disability rating, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5292. This decision grants an increased rating for the veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that there is a need for further VA examination and development of the record to determine if the veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a psychiatric disorder, and whether his low back disability warrants an increased rating. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of the revised rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling him for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left foot disability and neurological disorder. The right foot and left ankle disabilities were found not to be of service origin or related to any service-connected condition. The low back disability was also determined not to be of service origin or related to a service-connected condition.

The veteran's appeal was denied as he did not have qualifying service for basic eligibility to receive nonservice-connected pension benefits.