Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded to the AOJ for further consideration, including referral to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of VA's Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to be 90 percent disabling, but they do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding his right leg disability. The inextricably intertwined issues of back and bilateral hip disabilities are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing on his service connection claim. The appeal is now pending and will be scheduled for a hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and determine if there is any relationship between his left knee disability and his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Native American Health Care Clinic and requesting a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, which corresponds to moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a DRO hearing and need for additional medical records. The Veteran's low back disorder is unclearly related to service, and he needs an examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 7800 and 7804.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in permanent and total disability that is due to the loss or loss of use of one or both lower extremities, precluding locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. The Board finds that this meets the criteria for specially adapted housing.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate for adjudication purposes and requires further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and providing notice regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, securing SSA disability benefits records, and scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and etiology of his service-connected left knee disorder and other claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and arthritis was not shown within one year of separation. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so severe as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining employment, physical or sedentary, which could be considered substantially gainful versus just marginal in comparison when realizing his level of education, prior work experience and training.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his claims of increased disability ratings for lumbar spondylosis and a right foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 40 percent, but his claim for a higher rating has been denied.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examinations and failure to provide adequate reasons and bases for its determinations regarding neurological conditions associated with his lower back condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease or arthritis, is service-connected. The claim for hypertension was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations regarding his claims for service connection, as well as a VA examination for the severity of his coronary artery disease. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to respond to this decision.