Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and entitlement to increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his left ankle sprain disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder began during his active service and is related to his military duties. As a result, the claim for service connection for a low back disorder is granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and a low back disorder, finding that new evidence submitted since the previous denial supports these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and granted an initial rating of 10 percent for a chronic right hip disability. The veteran's appeal is limited to these issues.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and consideration of new rating criteria.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected depression, hiatal hernia, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The effective date is August 4, 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbar radiculopathy involving the left lower extremity with loss of reflexes, foot drop, and muscular atrophy.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for a low back disorder and headaches due to insufficient development, including the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain from October 4, 1998. The other service-connected conditions have been evaluated as noncompensably disabling.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disorder, low back disorder, and left knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities in these areas.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of L4-L5, L5-S1 is currently rated at 20 percent and has been increased to reflect the effective date of December 1, 1999.

The veteran's initial claim for a low back strain disability was granted in January 1975 with an effective date of August 12, 1974. The RO has not awarded any earlier effective dates for the 10% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with spinal stenosis at L4-5, finding it incurred in service. The skin disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is related to his in-service injury and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 10 percent and later increased to 20 percent. The Board found that the disability warranted a rating of 40 percent from August 28, 1995 to the present.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his low back strain with degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring compliance with notification requirements.

The veteran's claims of increased ratings and service connection for his shoulder, foot, back, and neck conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to provide proper VCAA notice.