Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of VA examinations and a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's service-connected left leg disabilities result in loss of use of the left lower extremity due to residuals of an injury which so affects the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of a cane.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not originate in service or within a year of service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of the service-connected osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine. The Veteran will need to undergo an orthopedic examination and provide updated medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to outstanding records from his military service. The VA is instructed to obtain morning reports, after action reports or casualty reports for the period of January to March 1970, as well as any hospitalization records from Cam Ranh Bay.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and other disabilities. The issue of a TDIU will also be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability was denied as the symptoms did not more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating. For his bilateral hearing loss, he is already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation based on the severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including obtaining inpatient records and providing an updated VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his low back strain and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need to consider whether he would receive a higher single evaluation under the old spine rating criteria or if a higher combined evaluation is available.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right knee disorders are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after his military service, nor can a direct link be established between his current conditions and his service.

The Board has granted service connection for bronchiectasis due to her service-connected asthma and COPD. The Veteran's other claims have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for VA examinations to assess the etiology of any arthritis, low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and temporary total evaluations due to his service-connected disabilities. The claims of entitlement to service connection were not addressed as they are not part of the current appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA Vocational Rehabilitation records. The claims for higher ratings for radiculopathy are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease associated with osteoarthritis L4-5 and L5-S1.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The right eye and left eye disabilities, as well as the residuals of a left ring finger fracture, are still under consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine scoliosis is related to his period of active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, effective from April 14, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.