Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and needs further development before a decision can be made on whether the veteran's low back disorder is service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and for increased ratings for his cervical spine disabilities. The evidence did not establish that any current low back disorder was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development of her claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain and the reopening of her claim for service connection for a pineal gland tumor. The RO must schedule a hearing, obtain medical records, and conduct an examination before proceeding with further adjudication.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current left foot, left ankle, or back disabilities and therefore cannot establish service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back, neck, eye, and lung disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities are rated at 20 percent, while his cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that these ratings do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims of service connection for a back disability and radiculitis, as it is cumulative and redundant with previous records.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including another VA examination to determine if the veteran's back condition is related to her service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that there is no new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar syndrome, resulting in a denial of the appeal.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings or service connection. The veteran's malaria claim was previously denied in 2003 but remanded by the Court. The remaining claims were evaluated based on the evidence provided and found to not meet the criteria for the requested increased ratings or service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the regional office.

The Board denied increased ratings for right shoulder strain with arthritis and cervical spine disability including spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, both rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right ankle, knee and hip disorders. The condition was aggravated by these service-connected disabilities.

The VA has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain, effective from the date of the May 1993 decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability is related to his service, as it was present prior to service and likely aggravated by military service. The other secondary claims are not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection as his low back disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, including chronic lumbosacral strain and ankylosing spondylitis, began during active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral wrist, and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as depression and fatigue. The evidence does not support a finding of chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness or direct service connection.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and headaches due to trauma. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted since the January 1984 rating decision.