Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current low back disability.

The Board has found no evidence linking the veteran's current back disorder to his service, including a soft tissue injury in August 1982. The claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for further examination. The veteran's claims for higher rating of his low back disorder, service connection for cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disorders are being reviewed.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected back disability did not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

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

The VA determined that the veteran's current back disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left shoulder, bilateral hip, bilateral ankle, neck or lumbar spine disorders. The preponderance of evidence is against his claims for service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from September 27, 2001 to September 28, 2001 are eligible for payment or reimbursement due to the emergency nature of his chest pain and the lack of feasible VA facilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left foot disability, reopening of low back and vascular insufficiency service connection claims, and service connection for gouty arthritis.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions and denied all issues on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for neck injury and back disability, but granted a 40% rating for left mandible fracture residuals.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine was denied, as his disability is currently rated at 40 percent. The claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability secondary to lumbar spine disability was also denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for low back strain, finding no evidence of a relationship between his current symptoms and his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a neck and back condition, finding that there was no evidence of a link between his current conditions and his service-connected rheumatic heart disease.

The Board denied the appellant's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic intermittent low back pain and mild degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 was incurred in service, granting service connection for this condition.

The veteran's fibrositis of the left lumbar muscle fascia with degenerative joint disease was rated at 10 percent prior to September 26, 2003 and increased to 40 percent from that date.,From September 26, 2003, the veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 40 percent for his fibrositis.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his period of service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the submission of private medical records indicating significant changes in his condition. The case must be referred for a VA neurological examination to evaluate any neurological involvement associated with disc disease at L5-S1.