Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for a teleconference hearing at the RO, and will schedule it as soon as possible.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed multilevel degenerative disc disease is related to a documented low back injury in service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings due to a need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder due to concerns about the adequacy of the June 2011 VA examiner's findings regarding the etiology of any current low back disability. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder. Service connection is granted for lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability, peripheral neuropathy, and bowel/bladder impairment, and addressing whether service connection should be restored for type II diabetes mellitus with early diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted, effective June 1, 2005. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to August 30, 2012 is being remanded due to the change in his disability picture.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his hypertension and spine disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's heavy lifting as an artillery soldier during his military service contributed to his current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and shoulder conditions, are sufficiently severe to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to June 27, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected low back strain is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, lumbar herniated disk, left tibia and fibula fracture with chronic knee strain, and right quadriceps tendon repair, are found to be so severe that they prevent the Veteran from securing or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to address whether the Veteran's upper back disability is related to his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with chronic lower back pain or other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at a maximum of 60 percent since April 29, 2002. His cervical spine disability is rated at a maximum of 30 percent since April 29, 2002. Effective November 29, 2002, the Veteran has been granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment for the period prior to January 28, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including PTSD, depression disorder, anxiety disorder, TBI residuals, low back disorder, dental trauma, loss of sense of smell, and a claim for TDIU. The case is being remanded to reschedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various lower extremity and hip disorders, including as secondary to his service-connected left foot and ankle disabilities. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the current diagnoses of all claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an examination and additional development of records.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's service periods and obtain relevant medical records. The case will be remanded for these actions.