Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and migraines.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including left underarm pain, right underarm pain, neck disability, back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, residuals of rib fractures, residuals of head injury (skull injury), and headaches. The Veteran's service records are unavailable due to no fault on his part.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to March 22, 2012 and increased to 50 percent from June 1, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional treatment records and a re-examination of his low back strain.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is considered a subsequent manifestation of his already service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with osteoarthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities because the submitted evidence is cumulative and redundant of previous evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease and stenosis, is related to his active service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability and found that the Veteran's current left knee condition is at least as likely as not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disability. The claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, and right ankle disability were withdrawn by the Veteran prior to decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain as the result of scoliosis with degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical disc disease, lumbar disc disease, and radiculopathy secondary to a cervical spine disorder. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his in-service injury during basic training.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disorder, and considering whether there has been any worsening in his major depression since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his low back disability and obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for a back condition and left foot drop, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his in-service injury and grants service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating for diabetes mellitus, service connection for hypertensive heart disease, and service connection for a low back disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions, and that any current diagnoses were not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, hip and knee conditions, ankle, wrist, plantar fasciitis, and migraine headaches have been granted. The claim for psychiatric disability was denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU, and he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation despite his physical limitations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of rationale in the VA medical nexus opinion, and additional development is required.