Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for his lumbar spine disability will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine DDD and bilateral knee arthritis are related to service, granting the claims for these disabilities.

Service connection for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for a low back condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine disabilities. The appeal is now pending again with the RO/AMC.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on May 26, 2010, at Capital for a headache following a CT myelogram are approved as the condition was of such severity that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for PTSD, a sleep disorder, and residuals of a neck and back injury. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these matters as the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back injury and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. He is not eligible for TDIU on a schedular or extraschedular basis.

The Board is remanding the claims for additional development and adjudicative action due to concerns about due process, missing medical records, and incomplete SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic low back strain with disc bulging at L5-S1 was denied as the current evaluation of 40 percent adequately reflects all pertinent manifestations of his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not worsened to the point that he is unable to perform his current job, and the occupation for which he was previously rehabilitated remains suitable given his employment handicap.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim due to the need for additional evidence and readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of private treatment records and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his second period of active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service, including documented treatment for back pain during service and a credible report of continuity of symptomatology from service until present.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service exposure, resulting in service connection.,The Veteran's back injury is not considered to have resulted from VA treatment or negligence, leading to denial of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess her service-connected lumbar spine disability, including any associated neurological manifestations. Additionally, all relevant VA and private treatment records must be obtained.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA/privately obtained medical records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he has current heart disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or low back disorder, as well as whether these conditions are related to his military service.