Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his attorney prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine condition is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and providing a supplemental VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is service-connected, as it was incurred during his period of active duty.

The Board has granted initial noncompensable ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities effective June 17, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a mood disorder and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's history of in-service injury is considered probative evidence relating to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disorder, finding that the evidence was in approximate balance indicating that his service-connected low back disorder manifested primarily by longstanding subjective complaints of pain. The appeal will be otherwise denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected low back disability. The Veteran also requested a videoconference hearing.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service connection for back disorder, cold injury to upper extremities, or cold injury to lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were denied as there was insufficient credible evidence linking his conditions to military service.

The Board found no current diagnosis of a low back disorder related to the Veteran's service and denied his claim for service connection. The right shoulder osteoarthritis was also not granted as it is considered a preexisting condition that did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before RO personnel at the earliest opportunity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition and radiculopathy of the upper extremities due to lack of evidence showing that VA facilities were not feasibly available, or that delay in seeking medical attention would have been hazardous.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting a new examination. The TDIU claim is also part of the pending increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain private medical records from Patients First in Tallahassee, Florida. The Veteran is asked to provide the names and addresses of any healthcare providers who have treated him for his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if his current back disability is related to his active military service or any period of ACDUTRA. The examiner must address whether he had a pre-existing back disability that was aggravated by his ACDUTRA service.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), migraine headaches, left hip disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.