Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to address his service connection claims, including obtaining corroborated in-service stressors and medical records from private physicians. The Veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back condition and migraine headaches to allow for additional development, including obtaining relevant service records and providing VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran will need to provide missing documents, including an audiological examination from December 2015, and undergo further evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and bilateral hip disability due to new evidence received since the February 2009 decision. The claims are remanded for further development, including obtaining U.S. Army Reserve records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted, with an effective date of June 10, 2008. The case was remanded multiple times and the Veteran received increased ratings in December 2016.

The Board has ordered additional VA treatment records to be obtained, as the current ones are incomplete. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability following a July 1993 left total hip replacement is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to their death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as they have become moot.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disability, psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities as there are outstanding VA treatment records that need to be secured.

The Board has determined that further action is necessary before a decision can be reached on the merits of the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU. The AOJ must review the newly received evidence, issue an SSOC, and provide the Veteran with a notification letter concerning his claim of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors. The conditions of interest include dental issues, hallux valgus of the feet, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right ankle condition, varicocele condition, low back condition, left knee condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), headache condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, headache disability, hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and hypertension. However, further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for spinal stenosis status-post lumbar laminectomy and PTSD due to incomplete records from SSA, VA medical records, and a need to obtain all relevant records. The Veteran's attorney pointed out that there are incomplete SSA records and recent VA medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to exposure to herbicide agents is denied as there is no credible evidence of such exposure. The Veteran's back disability and associated radiculopathy claims are remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability and an increased rating for a left ankle disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these appeals.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disorder, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient consideration of all evidence in the file.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability has been reopened and is granted. The claims for an initial compensable rating for left lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right Achilles tendon injury, diverticulitis, and lumbar spine disability. The claims are being remanded for further development.