Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, left knee disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and initial compensatory disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The appeals were also denied regarding effective dates.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for new VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to, or the result of, his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, a back disorder, and a bilateral knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or that any are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding no evidence of a worsening in his left ear hearing loss or any new conditions related to his service-connected metallic foreign body. The Veteran's bilateral knee and hip degenerative joint diseases were not found to be secondary to his service-connected condition, and his lumbar spine disease was also not found to be secondary.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to her service and has granted her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran had polio during active duty service, currently has post-polio syndrome or a low back disorder secondary to post-polio syndrome, and if any of these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board finds that there is no evidence of a low back injury during service, and the Veteran's current degenerative changes of the lumbar spine are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for pes planus and lumbar strain with degenerative changes were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed low back, left hip, and right knee disorders were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease, secondary to lumbar paravertebral fibromyositis, currently manifests with chronic pain and limited forward flexion. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in ankylosis or neurological impairment.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, low back, and eye disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a low back disability, finding no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the PTSD service connection is granted. The claim for an increased rating of his lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran withdrew her claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss during a Travel Board hearing. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule the Veteran for a VA spine examination, and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case on the claim for an initial compensable evaluation for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and further development of his cervical spine disability.