Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service acoustic trauma.,Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a traumatic brain injury and her claim for service connection for right leg neuropathy is denied. The Board also found that she did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right hip sprain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left foot disorder, and a back disorder. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's current hearing loss was not related to service or any incident of service, while finding his tinnitus was incurred during service. The VA examiner also determined that the Veteran's pes cavus existed prior to military service and was not permanently worsened beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's claim for an initial (compensable) rating for left lumbar radiculopathy has been remanded due to scheduling of a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine. However, the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and found that the Veteran's current degenerative changes of the lumbar spine originated in service. The claim for an increased rating for hypothyroidism is remanded due to outstanding records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine and hip disability with associated bilateral leg numbness, which was previously denied in January 2005.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, neck disability, and right leg disability due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his active service.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current low back disorder was caused by or related to service, and denied the claim.

The Veteran's stomach disorder, including GERD and IBS, is not service-connected.,Prior to April 6, 2010, the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was rated at 10 percent. From April 6, 2010 to July 16, 2013, it was rated at 20 percent. Since then, it has not been manifested by unfavorable ankylosis.,The Veteran's depression is currently rated as 70 percent from May 24, 2012 and thereafter.,Neurological impairment of the left lower extremity resulted in mild sciatic nerve neuropathy since July 16, 2013. Neurological impairment of the right lower extremity also resulted in mild sciatic nerve neuropathy since that date.,The Veteran was granted TDIU effective May 24, 2012.

The VA determined that the Veteran's alcoholism, which led to his death from end-stage liver disease, was not caused by or related to his service-connected low back disability. The medical opinions were divided on this issue.

The Veteran's back disability has been rated at 40 percent since February 2, 2007. The rating is based on the functional limitation of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine being comparable to 30 degrees or less.

The Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder that is aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease. The Board affirms this finding and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current bilateral shoulder disability, right upper arm disability, or back disability. The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, tinnitus, thoracolumbar spine condition with bilateral radiculopathy, and left thumb scar with peripheral nerve condition, do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is caused by or related to his service-connected seizure disorder, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic low back pain is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities and denied the claim for direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are related to an injury he sustained during ACDUTRA in July 1967, which is considered active duty service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development and readjudication.