Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disability and right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disability and back disability, as well as his claims for residuals of hypothermia, psychiatric disability (including PTSD), hearing loss, and right leg disability. The evidence submitted since previous determinations was not considered new and material to reopen any of these claims.

The Board found no evidence of a back disorder during active service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, as secondary to residuals of a right knee gunshot wound.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection of his low back disability, which the Board has granted based on new and material evidence submitted after a previous denial in November 1975.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a hysterectomy, mental disorder, and back condition. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no competent medical evidence to support a current disability or etiology related to his military service.

The Board found that herniated and bulging discs of the cervical and lumbar spine were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they due to a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain did not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent on and after September 26, 2003. The disability was characterized by limitation of motion but no radiculopathy or sciatica.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development and consideration, including obtaining service medical records from the veteran's second period of active service and post-service medical records. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing and further development. The issues of service connection are not addressed as the appeal is in its initial stages.

The Board has found the veteran's statements concerning the circumstances of the service back injury sufficient proof, and a VA physician concluded that there is no clear connection between the veteran's current back disability and service trauma. The case is remanded for further development to obtain medical nexus opinions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a back disability and found that new evidence supports this reopening. The claim will now be evaluated on its merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from the veteran.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and emphysema. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for low back disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for low back strain, as the additional evidence did not provide a more complete picture of the circumstances surrounding the origins of his current condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and cervical spine disability, including obtaining medical opinions and potentially obtaining treatment records.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected spondylolisthesis, finding that the evidence did not warrant such an increase.

The veteran is seeking service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine, which he contends was incurred or aggravated by service. The Board has ordered additional development due to outstanding SSA records.