Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing him with the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for a skin disorder (mucous patch), left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The remaining claims are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the TDIU claim. The claims will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected scoliosis of the thoracic and lumbar spine with degenerative spondylosis and thoracic kyphosis was initially granted, but a higher rating is sought.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral pes planus, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and low back disability have been granted. Service connection for tinnitus remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and requests for treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently shown low back disorder is caused by his service-connected right and left ankle strain and bilateral pes planus, thus granting service connection for this condition as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, bilateral arm, and bilateral leg disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine with limitation of flexion was not incurred in service and is not related to service or any incident therein. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the appellant's current neck disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and thoracic outlet syndrome, do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound due to his ability to perform daily activities with assistance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral spine strain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma was denied in 1973, but new evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran is granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and no higher since it meets criteria for such a rating. Other claims have also been addressed.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of intervertebral disc syndrome (IDS) rating criteria.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed back and wrist disabilities, as well as their relationship to service-connected left shoulder disability. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining these opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder impingement syndrome is not related to his service, and the claim for lumbar disability was denied as final. The Veteran's new and material evidence claim for lumbar disability is granted, but the issue of whether it is related to service or aggravated by flat feet remains pending. The Board has also noted that a VA examination should be conducted to determine if the Veteran has any current sleep disorder and its relationship to his lumbar disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal requires additional development due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination report, and thus remands the case for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depressive disorder and lumbar spine disability have been denied as there is no evidence of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left knee disability and granted it. The Veteran's current left knee disability is found to be related to his service-connected right knee disability, which qualifies as secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and low back disability due to the need for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.