Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board found no evidence of a low back disability, hypertension, or an acquired psychiatric disorder during service or within one year post-service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. However, these claims are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the neurological symptoms in his left lower extremity are also rated as 40 percent under a separate diagnostic code. The Board finds that neither condition warrants an increase to a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities effectively result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, precluding locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. As such, he is eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, hip and low back disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Johns Hopkins Hospital and providing another VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, and right knee disabilities due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD), L5-S1, prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient information and missing records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with his claim for bilateral lower extremity pain and numbness, which is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chronic lumbar strain was denied, with the exception of separate ratings for left and right lumbar radiculopathy as of May 10, 2010. The effective date for these additional ratings is also noted.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lung disability and remanded his appeal for service connection for a back disability. The case is now being returned to the Board for further action.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and clarify the need for new authorizations. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are not service-connected, as they are not shown to be directly related to his military service or a service-connected condition. The VA opinions provided do not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disorder, and neck disorder. The case will be remanded to allow for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's leg length discrepancy was not caused or aggravated by VA care, and the claimed disabilities are not service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, knee and back disorders, hypertension, genitourinary issues, skin conditions, arthritis, traumatic brain injury, fibromyalgia, Reiter's syndrome, autoimmune disorder, hand and elbow disorders, and kidney problems. The decision also denied a temporary total rating for convalescence purposes due to right thumb fracture.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disability and granted a rating of 60 percent for right total knee replacement due to degenerative joint disease. The scar, status post right total knee replacement, is rated at 10 percent.