Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his chronic thoracic and lumbosacral strain with spasm is being remanded to the RO for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, back disability, right shoulder disability, hypertension, and residuals of frozen feet are all granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including a VA examination to assess the severity and frequency of his low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were granted, with a 20 percent rating assigned from August 22, 2007.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities, but the RO has determined that further development is needed before deciding his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and consideration of additional treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, a left shoulder disorder, and the Veteran's right shoulder and low back disorders due to inadequate development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development of his claims, including the need for VA examinations and obtaining Social Security Administration records.

Service connection is denied for traumatic arthritis of the right knee and a left knee injury. Service connection is granted for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's current depressed skull fracture, claimed as residuals from an in-service head injury, is not service connected.

The Board and the RO have denied reopening the Veteran's previously-denied claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use of both lower extremities, blindness in both eyes, or loss of use of one upper extremity.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30% from March 28, 2006 to July 16, 2007. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD prior to and after this period.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic back disability during service or within one year after discharge, and the current degenerative joint disease (arthritis) of the lumbar spine was not caused by service. Therefore, service connection for a back disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left ilium may have aggravated his low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing lower lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis was aggravated by active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a rating of 20 percent for the gunshot wound to the left foot effective from April 15, 2004.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for chronic low back disability, chronic cardiac disorder, and chronic acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's claims are not currently addressed as they have been returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and whether it is related to service or service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.