Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a combined disability rating of 80 percent for ankylosing spondylitis and associated lower extremity disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for limitation of abduction of the bilateral hips and sensory deficit of the bilateral lower extremities are addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and tinea pedis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee, lumbosacral spine, left shoulder, peripheral artery disease, and mental disorder conditions are not service-connected as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a direct causal relationship between his in-service injury and current arthritis or degenerative disc disease.,For hearing loss, the Veteran received a compensable rating of 10 percent from July 21, 2010 to June 5, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not show puretone threshold and speech recognition test results warranting a higher rating during this period.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show puretone threshold and speech recognition test results warranting such a rating from June 5, 2012 forward.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 5, 2012 for the grant of 10 percent disability for hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show continuity of symptomatology or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and reopening of his claim for bilateral knee disorder are being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a back disability, including secondary service connection and obtaining VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of being housebound or based on the need for regular aid and attendance has been denied as he does not meet the criteria for either.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the provision of outstanding treatment records. The issues include rating his spine disabilities and determining if he qualifies for TDIU.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis, as the April 2012 VA examiner did not consider all instances of complaints and treatment for lower back pain in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board found insufficient evidence linking his neck or low back disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on January 11, 2011, February 28, 2011, and in 2012 and 2014 are granted. The appeal is based on the direct service connection of his back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his bilateral foot disability claim and consideration of the back disability claim as secondary to a pre-existing bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and left ear hearing loss are pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back, neck, and shoulder disabilities are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against finding a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral eye disability and denied entitlement to an increased evaluation for low back disability. The Veteran's current eye disability is not related to his military service, while the low back disability was found to be at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication of the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left foot disability, to include degenerative arthritis; and a low back disability, to include degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease was evaluated at 20 percent prior to February 10, 2012. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher evaluation.