Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's degenerative disc disease, L5-S1, was granted a 20 percent disability rating effective from April 2001. The separate 10 percent rating for decreased sensation, right lower extremity (radiculitis L5-S1 level) remains at 10 percent.

The Board has restored the veteran's 10 percent disability rating for low back pain as of September 1, 2002.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran seeks service connection for a low back disorder, including degenerative joint disease and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The case is being remanded to allow for further development and consideration.

The Board denied service connection for a left heel disability and the claim for a higher rating for a low back disability. The veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for service connection as his claimed conditions are not shown to be related to active duty.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disorder and found that new evidence supports this reopening. The case is remanded to further develop the record before readjudicating the merits of the claim.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the veteran's upper back disorder to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions as being incurred during or related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of the record, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's low back disability and bilateral pes planus.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbosacral spine injury is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if any current low back or stomach disorders are related to service.

The veteran's claim of reopening his low back disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities as well as his residuals of shell fragment wounds of the left and right shoulders.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted, allowing the veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder to be reopened.

The appeal is being REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC for further action. The veteran and his attorney need to provide additional evidence and information regarding their claims.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder and denied his increased rating claim for bilateral chondromalacia. The veteran's current disability picture does not meet or approximate the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder. The veteran's claim was denied as there was no showing of continuity between in-service back problems and current disability.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, scoliosis, and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spines. The decision is based on evidence showing these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is service-connected. The issue of service connection for a cervical spine disorder remains pending and requires further examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the appellant's service-connected left knee disability caused or aggravated his lumbar spine and right ankle disorders.