Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits was denied because he does not have an employment handicap, and his current occupation as a senior engineer is considered suitable.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the secondary service connection claim for the Veteran's back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and any outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred in or aggravated by his INACDUTRA service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right hip disability was aggravated by active duty service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a right hip disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and left knee disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating from September 15, 2016 is 80 percent. The competent and probative evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 15, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of the record, including obtaining outstanding medical records.

The Board found that there is no evidence of neurological deficits in the Veteran's lower extremities as a manifestation of his thoracic spine disability, and thus denied separate ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board Videoconference hearing to be held at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board in Washington, DC.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability with bilateral radiculopathy. The TDIU claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration if the schedular criteria are not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, as well as a VA examination to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and lumbar spine disability are not service-connected, as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to her military service and does not qualify for secondary service connection due to her left knee disability. The claim is therefore denied.

The Veteran's lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has granted a rating in excess of this for his disability. The claim for TDIU was also granted.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and after affording him the benefit of the doubt, his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination of the Veteran's lower back disability due to inadequate previous examinations. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and further development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of chronic disabilities affecting the right hip, low back, middle finger, ankles, wrists, thumbs, or shoulder during service. The Veteran's current complaints are not supported by objective medical findings and he does not have a currently diagnosed disability for which service connection can be granted.