Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

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

The Board found that the veteran's back and left leg conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied both claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Low Back Disorder, including obtaining records from various healthcare providers.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current back disability and denied her claim for service connection. For her periarticular osteopenia of the right hand, the Board determined there was no compensable limitation of motion or pain, leading to a denial of an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability due to new and material evidence, including medical opinions linking the veteran's current condition to his military duties. The left hand injury issue remains unresolved.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including a VA neurological examination to determine if the veteran currently has residuals of brain stem poisoning and whether they are due to exposure to an herbicide agent in service.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for his low back disability and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain complete copies of VA examination reports, answer questions posed in the February 2004 Board remand, and schedule the veteran for a neurological examination.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of his case.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings regarding the etiology of the appellant's low back disorder.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for CUE in an October 1974 rating decision, finding error in a February 2003 rating decision regarding PTSD and lumbosacral strain ratings, and denying entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD with psychophysiological musculoskeletal reaction and TDIU.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's left knee injury residuals with degenerative arthritis, effective from February 25, 2004. The lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 40 percent since February 25, 2004.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and adjudication of the service connection claim.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease from March 27, 2003 to the present.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a back disorder remains pending.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded to the Regional Office for additional development. You will be scheduled for a Travel Board hearing if you desire one.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the veteran's application for Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits, which may be relevant to his claims.

The Board finds that the veteran's dysthymic disorder is secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral peripheral vascular disease and arthritis of the hips and lumbar spine due to cold injury has been dismissed as his representative notified the Board that he had died.

The veteran seeks an increased evaluation for his post-operative residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus L4-L5 and L5-S1, which is currently rated as 40 percent disabling. The VA has ordered additional examination and development due to the change in schedular criteria effective September 26, 2003.