Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's lumbar strain and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been rated appropriately based on their current severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical opinions and VA examinations regarding his low back disorder, psychiatric disorder, and service-connected residuals of a left patella and femur fracture with muscle herniation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher disability ratings for left lower extremity superficial varicose veins with venous insufficiency and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with lumbar fusion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as the most recent examinations are outdated and additional development is needed. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disorder and gynecomastia and its residuals.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the higher initial rating and subsequent staged ratings for left leg radiculopathy at L4-5 before a decision was made.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain and/or fracture, low back pain, tinnitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and diverticulitis. The reasons provided were that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the available records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the presence of qualifying chronic disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of a complete medical history. The issues include service connection claims for cardiovascular disability, sinusitis, back disability, and tinea versicolor.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his hip and spine disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disorder is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a back disability or bilateral eye disability that was caused by his service, nor can it be attributed to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back condition was denied.,His PTSD has been granted with an initial rating of 30 percent, effective from June 30, 2011. A subsequent increase to 50 percent was granted as of July 5, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records, as well as issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding his claims for service connection for tinnitus and right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting back disorder was not aggravated by his military service, and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for a back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Capital Regional Medical Center on September 6, 2012 is denied as the condition was not an emergency and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and remanded other issues including ratings for his back, right shoulder, and leg disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities based on direct service connection. The Veteran now has a full grant of benefits sought.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for a statement of the case on several issues.