Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical examination and further development is required.

The Board has denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for degenerative lumbar disease, finding that no new and material evidence has been presented.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, sinus condition, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine due to a lack of VA examination. The veteran's service records show treatment for upper respiratory problems including sinus issues, and back injury during active duty.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records of in-service back injuries and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current low back disorder and service. The hypertension claim will also be remanded as it was not addressed in the original decision.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and granted it. The veteran's claims for chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, and arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine have been addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disorder, finding that the current condition is at least as likely as not related to service. However, it was aggravated after discharge from service.,Service connection for a low back disorder has been denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board found that vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code is not reasonably feasible due to the veteran's multiple service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities preventing him from successfully achieving a vocational goal.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar-dorsal strain with narrowing, L5-S1 warrants a rating of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed bilateral elbow, knee, back, and ankle disabilities as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective September 9, 2005.

The veteran's service connection claims for bronchitis and a right hand disability (claimed as arthritis of the right hand) were granted. Service connection was established for undiagnosed arthralgias of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints of the right hand due to Gulf War illness, but his claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability and back disability, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim for bilateral knee disability. The Board also found no current disability related to a back injury or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess his conditions.

The Board found that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for a back disability. The case was remanded due to an issue with the Court's decision regarding a statement submitted by the veteran's sister.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for high cholesterol, finding that neither condition warranted a higher rating or service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 7, 2002 for a compensable evaluation of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with fracture of the pars, L5 and degenerative joint disease with L5-S1 radiculopathy.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disorder, other than osteochondroma; low back disorder; bilateral knee disorder; and bilateral leg disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service or any service-connected disability.,Service connection was not granted as secondary to a service-connected condition due to the lack of medical opinion linking the current diagnoses to the veteran's in-service right hip osteochondroma.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for reopening his service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to support the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's conditions.