Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to verify his reported stressor. Additional development is required, including obtaining medical records from various VA facilities and private providers, as well as verifying the alleged in-service stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back disability and remanded the issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, discogenic disease of the spine (claimed as low back condition), and residuals of a right wrist fracture. The appeals were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has found no evidence of current disabilities related to service for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, low back disorder, or bilateral knee disorder. The veteran's claims are therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims. The residuals of a head injury and chronic respiratory disorder were also denied due to lack of service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial disability ratings have been denied. The left ankle injury with traumatic arthritis remains at a 10% rating, while the right shoulder strain is rated at 10%. Other conditions remain at their current assigned ratings.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected back disorder is being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence and need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

Service connection was granted for lumbosacral arthritis based on the veteran's status as a former POW, with an effective date of October 21, 1998.,Service connection was granted for ischemic heart disease as a residual of beriberi based on the veteran's status as a former POW, with an effective date of January 12, 1998.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, but denied service connection for a low back disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for blurred vision of the left eye and herniated discs, L4-5, with degenerative disc disease (DDD), finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee, cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging an orthopedic examination to determine the etiology of any current back disorder.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder, but also noted that additional evidence did not bear on whether the veteran's current condition was incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's current back and skin conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition and granted service connection on the merits. The claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, major depressive disorder with psychosis (claimed as anxiety and depression), and secondary service connection for the same are also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural defects and the need for additional evidence, including medical opinions on service connection claims.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and low back disorder, both secondary to his service-connected right knee condition. The evidence did not meet the criteria for establishing direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection, and TDIU due to his low back sprain. The veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine were not found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected low back sprain.