Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disorders, specifically focusing on whether they are related to active duty and/or ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected high plantar arches and fracture of the right fifth metatarsal bone, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including notification on how to substantiate a claim for secondary service-connection.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the submission of new evidence since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The case will be returned for further review and consideration.

The Veteran's right shoulder, bilateral arm, neck and back disabilities are service connected. The Veteran is granted a higher evaluation for his right shoulder disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion and considering whether to refer the case for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 60 percent since April 4, 2011. The claim for a higher rating on an extraschedular basis from October 23, 2006 to April 4, 2011 was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obesity, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type I, hypertension, lumbar spine strain, and right knee DJD are proximately due to his service-connected lower extremity disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to concerns about the adequacy of previous medical opinions and a need for another VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, left lower leg, and left knee disorders are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at the maximum available, while other issues remained unresolved.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus was denied as the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. The maximum schedular rating has been assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of regular aid and attendance, with the exception of his diabetic neuropathy which does not require it.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hip, back, hearing loss, tinnitus, headache, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, or left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disability for which service connection can be granted. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) in the March 2009 decision. The Veteran's claims were not reopened.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claims for service connection can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for back disability and hypertension, but the appeal for removal of a cancerous mass in the throat was withdrawn by the Veteran. The heart disorder claim remains pending.