Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to clarify the claims on appeal due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the relationship between the veteran's current back and hip/leg complaints and an August 1978 fall during INACDUTRA.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and knees are being remanded due to a failure to provide proper notice under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back myositis was denied as he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in February 2004 without good cause.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal regarding recoupment of military separation pay and found that VA is required to deduct $11,135.24 from his disability compensation due to receipt of separation pay at discharge.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder did not originate in service and is not otherwise causally related to his military service, including to his service-connected TMJS.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of relevant treatment records.

The veteran is seeking service connection for low back and bilateral knee disorders, which he claims are related to his service-connected right Achilles tendon tear. The case has been remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a mid and low back disorder, but the RO has denied this claim. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule the veteran for a VA examination.

The veteran's initial ratings for chondromalacia of the right and left patellas were granted, but not increased. The RO also granted a 10 percent rating for his herniated disc of the lumbar spine effective March 20, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a left thigh muscle injury and a lumbar back injury, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The veteran is seeking service connection for depression, hip disorder, and low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected right eye disability. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional evidence from SSA and other sources.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the case can be further adjudicated, including obtaining complete records of treatment and arranging for a VA examination to determine the likely etiology of the appellant's low back disability.

The veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine DJD and service connection for hip, knee, ankle, and foot disorders are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of revised VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for degenerative disc disease of L3-4 to L5-S1, mild broad based disc bulging with spondylosis and radiculopathy of the left leg were denied. His claim for separate 10 percent evaluations for bilateral tinnitus was also denied as a matter of law due to the undifferentiated nature of the disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding no current disability and noting that there were no chronic residuals of complaints made during service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability, but denied the claim on the merits. The case is being remanded due to procedural defects in the VCAA notice.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of chronic disabilities related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee and mechanical low back pain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA regulations.