Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is likely due to noise exposure during his active service and subsequent National Guard service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide a VA examination and consider his claim for TDIU due to service-connected chronic low back strain.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be the result of injury in active military service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disorder and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issue of service connection for low back disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's treatment records and to provide an addendum to his VA examination. The appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbosacral spine disability and remanded it for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for any higher schedular rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's low back strain has not been manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, and thus denied her claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development on the issues of service connection for a low back disability, left leg deep vein thrombosis and phlebitis, right leg deep vein thrombosis, and peptic ulcer disease and gastritis. The Veteran is being given an opportunity to obtain and submit 'buddy statements' from servicemen to support his account of an alleged injury in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's scoliosis and whether his lumbar spine conditions are secondary to his service-connected right and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since March 19, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability in November 2009. The case was remanded by the Court and the Board, but the requested records were not obtained or reviewed appropriately. As such, the decision is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is rated at 20 percent, effective December 13, 2007. The claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatica are denied as the evidence does not show that they meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran has been granted initial noncompensable ratings for his service-connected left and right lower extremity sciatica, effective December 13, 2007. The claims for increased ratings remain denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be the result of service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claims for residuals of low back injury and right ankle injuries are not addressed as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection. The claim for nonservice connected pension benefits is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed neck/upper back disability, urinary/bladder disability, and increased ratings for his low back and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left foot hallux valgus with plantar fasciitis and first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative changes are currently rated at the lowest possible compensable levels.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his active duty service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The remaining issues of bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and left hip disorder are remanded for further development.