Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed for the Veteran's headaches and back disability claims due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current headaches, as well as whether they are related to service. An addendum opinion from the December 2012 VA examiner will also be requested.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED to the RO/AMC for clarification of intent to seek compensation benefits and for additional development.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 40 percent disabling effective November 12, 2013. The rating for hemorrhoids remains noncompensable. Both conditions are not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple claims regarding various disabilities, including knee issues, psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, allergies, back pain, sciatica, and hearing loss. The case is being remanded for a live hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development and potential consideration of undiagnosed illness or multi-symptom illnesses.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a low back disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional development regarding the claimed injury in service and any associated records.

The Board found no evidence of a current lumbar spine disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's low back condition is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional treatment records, as well as consideration of whether extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating following his August 2, 2012 lumbar disc surgery is being remanded due to the need to resolve service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine first.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type 2, low back condition (claimed as sore back), and athlete's foot to the AOJ for further review of additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee arthritis are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee injury residuals with associated arthritis, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for neck pain and low back pain, finding that these conditions did not have their clinical onset in service or were otherwise related to active duty. The claims are based on direct service connection rather than secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate development and compliance with previous remands. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination to address his right knee and back disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation of lumbosacral strain and extraschedular evaluation was denied. The issue of TDIU is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's low back disability is productive of severe limitation of motion, warranting a 40 percent rating since November 28, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and opinions regarding specific diagnoses and their relationship to service.