Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The veteran claims his current low back disability is related to an in-service fall. The Board finds the claim requires additional development due to conflicting evidence and questions about the accuracy of the premise.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and potential consideration of service connection under provisions for undiagnosed illnesses.

The VA granted service connection for the veteran's low back disability as secondary to his right ankle disability and assigned a 10 percent initial evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance are being remanded due to the need for additional VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed neck, cervical spine, and low back disability including arthritis, as well as his right hand and wrist injury residuals, and arm and leg weakness, are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his low back disorder were denied. The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The veteran's case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess his current disability status of his lumbar spine.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the nature and circumstances of an alleged in-service injury, obtaining additional medical records, and providing the veteran with a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to failure to address whether the duty to assist and the duty to notify had been met.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder may be presumed to have been incurred during service due to a herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1, which manifested within one year of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for a mood disorder secondary to the veteran's service-connected back disability. However, it denied an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral strain as there was no evidence showing that the condition had worsened beyond what is contemplated by the current 40 percent evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran did not incur or aggravate a low back disability in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has found that the veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an increased disability evaluation for the veteran's low back injury and service connection for a neck disability, finding that the cervical spine disorder is not etiologically related to his service-connected low back disorder or to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for low back strain with herniated nucleus pulposus and bilateral plantar fascitiis are being remanded due to inadequate notice under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding service connection for a back disorder and hypertension, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and plantar fasciitis disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, positive PPD reaction, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, circulatory problems of each leg, costochondritis, and injuries to the right shoulder, ankle, and hand. The appeals are all denied as direct service connection is not warranted.

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 disability. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the current low back disability.