Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no current evidence of the claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if there is a link between the veteran's current low back disorder and bilateral leg disorder and his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain effective from June 25, 2005.

The veteran's low back strain and degenerative joint disease of lumbar spine with arthritis is currently rated at 40 percent, the highest schedular rating available under current criteria. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

For the period beginning on September 26, 2003, the veteran's chronic low back pain has been productive of motion limited to a combined 145 degrees without pain; flexion limited to 50 degrees without pain and to 60 degrees with pain. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The veteran's chronic strain of the lumbosacral spine was incurred during his active military service and is granted as service connected.

The Board found that the veteran's low back pain and degenerative joint disease are not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and a left knee disorder, finding that these conditions are more likely than not incurred in active service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were granted, with the rating of 20 percent for lumbosacral arthritis, disc derangement, and degenerative spondylosis continuing. The effective date was set at October 12, 2000.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck conditions, as well as his claim for a thoracic spine condition. The evidence did not establish that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including providing VCAA notice and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and inadequate VCAA notice.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a laceration to his left index finger. However, the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a lung condition must be remanded due to additional evidence received after the initial decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA medical records and proper notice under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5103(a) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(b).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and employment information.