Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA examinations and records, as well as Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to service connection for cholesterol, short-term memory loss, diabetes mellitus, eligibility for a non-service connected pension, and TDIU. The claim of service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to new evidence received since the April 2009 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further investigation is needed. The Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder. The issue of service connection for a back disorder is remanded due to the need for proper development.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and assigned an initial rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection. The Veteran's CAD is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board has been scheduled, but he failed to appear. The case is being remanded to reschedule his hearing at the RO.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disability and remanded it for further development. The Veteran's left hip disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective June 4, 2011, and her right hip disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective April 23, 2009.

The Board has denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining post-service medical records and providing new examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a permanent loss of use of his right foot, and the Board finds that he is entitled to an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of his claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low-back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, annual leave reports from his employer, and a new VA examination. The claims will be reviewed after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected low back strain is on appeal. She also seeks service connection for left and right knee disorders that she contends are secondary to her service-connected bilateral pes planus and low back strain.,The Veteran claims service connection for a left knee disorder, which she asserts is related to her service-connected bilateral pes planus and low back strain. She also claims service connection for a right knee disorder, again asserting it is related to her service-connected bilateral pes planus and low back strain.,The Veteran seeks TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder. The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection effective July 27, 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims due to missing service records and the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his old claims file, locate any relevant VA treatment records, and schedule a VA audiological examination. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder with associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left hip disorder, and stomach/gastrointestinal disorder are being addressed on remand.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back condition and its relation to service. The Veteran is requested to provide a complete accounting of his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from the Veteran. The claim will be reconsidered after all relevant evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition was reopened and granted. The claim for service connection for a neck condition was denied. The Veteran's initial disability rating for coronary artery disease, status post five bypass surgeries, was increased to 60 percent.

The Board granted service connection for a mood disorder with depressive features and increased the rating to 70 percent effective October 15, 2012. The Veteran's other claims were either denied or not addressed in this decision.