Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for his low back disorder, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active duty and did not have its onset during service.

The Board denied the veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence received since the April 1998 rating decision is not new and material.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for further examinations, including orthopedic, neurological, and psychiatric evaluations.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine was denied by the RO.

The veteran's service-connected conditions include GERD, headaches, a low back condition, and a psychiatric disorder. The Board granted service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset during active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability and psychiatric disability are related to his service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims due to a lack of timely filed substantive appeal regarding his service connection and increased disability evaluation for left knee injury with degenerative joint disease.

The veteran's claim is being remanded for further evaluation under the revised rating criteria for lumbar spine disabilities effective September 26, 2003. The RO must ensure all notification and development action required by the VCAA has been completed, including obtaining a VA neurological examination to determine the nature, extent, and severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with arthritis.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracic and lumbar spine disorders, but denied his claims for initial compensable ratings for his bilateral knee disorders. The back issues are rated at 10 percent each prior to March 1, 2003, while the knee issues remain noncompensably rated.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and an addendum to the November 2002 VA examination. The issues of service connection for fibromyalgia on both direct and secondary bases, as well as consideration of the revised rating criteria for spine disorders, will be re-adjudicated.

The case is being remanded to comply with VCAA notice requirements and for further review of the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a failure by VA to satisfy its duty to assist in obtaining certain medical records related to the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining additional medical records and considering whether staged ratings are warranted.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbar radiculitis with narrowing of the disc interspace and instability of the joint at L5 - S1 was denied by the RO. The current rating is 60 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The veteran seeks a higher disability rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The RO is remanded to consider the revised diagnostic criteria and provide an opportunity for the veteran to respond.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that it was not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and compliance with VCAA notice requirements.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and VCAA compliance issues.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, a right knee/leg disorder secondary to his service-connected left knee condition, and a back disorder secondary to his service-connected left knee condition. The denial is based on insufficient evidence showing that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA compensation examination and notification of the veteran's rights.