Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for depression. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The VA determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to her service-connected knee disabilities and instead likely due to genetic predisposition and obesity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for additional medical records. The Veteran is requested to provide any relevant treatment records from the VA Health Care system.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for hypertension, service connection for residuals of a low back injury and erectile dysfunction, as well as his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his more recent VA treatment records and to provide him with a new VA examination for his lumbar spine and left clavicle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The issues include increased ratings for his service-connected low back and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and severity of his service connected residuals from a lumbar strain and whether his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was caused or aggravated by this condition. The examiner should also address whether the Veteran's radiculopathy is secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine disorder was granted. The claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease, left shoulder disorder, osteopenia/osteoporosis, patellar degenerative joint disease (bilateral knees), allergies, erectile dysfunction, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, tibial radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) were also granted. The claim for a total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any back disorder and whether it is related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and left great toe disability. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to evaluate her bilateral knee disorder claim, and addressing the back disorder and headaches claims in conjunction with the bilateral knee disorder claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and providing addendum opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is required due to outstanding medical records and the need for a VA examination. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, chronic cervical strain, and chronic lumbar strain render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a low back disability and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeals on these issues during his April 2015 hearing. Service connection was granted for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected VA pension benefits was denied as the preponderance of evidence did not support his contention that he is permanently and totally disabled due to nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection for low back disability and bilateral shin splints.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of increased ratings for his spine disability and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability can be adjudicated.