Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including verification of service records and examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU rating were denied as the earliest date of entitlement was June 20, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's attempt to reopen his service connection claim for a back disability, finding that the new evidence submitted did not establish a relationship between current back disability and service.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete service records and the need for further development, including obtaining medical records from various sources.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current low back disorder is related to the veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder is related to his in-service injury, warranting service connection.,While the veteran has a history of anxiety symptoms, there is no competent evidence of a separate and distinct anxiety disorder not secondary to PTSD.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease with arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective from September 23, 2002. This rating reflects his severe intervertebral disc syndrome (IDS) with recurring attacks and moderate limitation of motion.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the neck disorder issue prior to a decision being made. The lumbosacral strain issue remains pending and will be remanded for further examination.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected knee and back disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that they are more than slight or mild in nature.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since September 1946 does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has restored the veteran's original 30 percent rating for his service-connected wedge deformity of lumbar vertebra with painful motion, effective August 1, 2003.

The veteran seeks service connection for paravertebral muscle spasms of the lumbar spine, claimed as a low back condition. The case is being remanded to gather additional medical evidence and to conduct an examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further review of new evidence submitted by the veteran and to determine if it constitutes new and material evidence sufficient to reopen his claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, and the Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran's peripheral neuropathy was not found to be related to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicides. The low back disability and PTSD were also not found to be related to the veteran's active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active military service and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent effective November 15, 2004. The right foot disability remains rated at 10 percent. Service connection for a right hip disability was granted.