Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board found that there is no evidence of a low back disability in service and the earliest clinical evidence of current disability was more than 50 years after separation from service. The Veteran's statements about an injury during bayonet training were not supported by contemporaneous medical records, and his spine was normal upon separation examination. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a low back disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of all submitted evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was reopened and granted. His claim for loss of use of both lower extremities was denied, as he did not have such impairment. The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral foot condition, lumbar spine condition, and sciatica of the right lower extremity are still pending.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete examination reports and the need for additional private treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of his lumbar spinal condition and foot condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and left hip/leg disorders are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development and consideration of his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA medical examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative changes of the feet and a disability of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board has been granted, and he is scheduled to appear. The case will be remanded due to his failure to attend the previously scheduled hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities based on a finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has ordered a remand due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed back and neck disabilities. The case is now being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient evidence to decide the claim on the merits.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain any form of substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities: coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and degenerative disk and joint disease of the lumbar spine. The Board finds that he meets the threshold requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence of a current neck disability related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition, and thus denied the Veteran's claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA treatment records from 1966-67, and the Veteran's claims file must be forwarded to an appropriate examiner for an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development due to unclear opinions and lack of consideration of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.