Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to scheduling issues for a DRO hearing and to obtain additional pertinent records.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional records from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The VA will attempt to obtain these records and consider all relevant evidence before making a decision on his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to his in-service encroachment syndrome with bifid spinous projection, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and a supplemental opinion regarding service connection for depressive disorder, as well as for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability and left lateral epicondylitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and completion of the VA Form 21-8940. The issues of increased rating for lumbar spine disability and TDIU are pending.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than October 13, 2010 for the grants of service connection for neck disability, left shoulder disability, and hypertension have been denied. The RO found that these claims were not filed prior to October 13, 2010.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before deciding the issue of service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran's claim will be remanded to the AOJ for another examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, stomach disability, and skin disability. The low back disability claim is pending as the Veteran did not attend his scheduled VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were principal or contributory causes of his death.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain disability has not been found to meet the criteria for a higher rating, as her range of motion and symptoms do not warrant an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability in December 1963, finding that the condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by it. The Veteran's claim is being denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are not related to service. The claims for these disabilities have been denied.

The Board found that the submitted evidence since the July 2009 final denial is essentially cumulative of the evidence previously of record with regard to the basis for the prior denial, and thus did not meet the criteria for reopening any of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability and to determine if there are any flare-ups or neurological impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher initial ratings for service-connected low back and left knee disabilities due to new examinations being needed, as well as additional development of records. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the May 2011 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and for further development of his claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, hypertension, intestinal problems, and anemia at the May 2017 Board hearing.,With resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder have been met.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the appeal is REMANDED. The Veteran needs to provide records from SSA, obtain SPRs/STRs, and undergo VA examinations for his lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders, and heart disorders.