Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's hypertension and psoriasis were granted service connection. The lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, and right hand disability are also granted as direct service connection based on evidence of in-service onset or aggravation.

The Veteran's low back disability and hypertension have been granted service connection. The increased rating claims for PTSD, recurrent urolithiasis/kidney stones, left knee disability, and TDIU are pending.

The Board has determined that the VA examination was inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claims on appeal are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and requests for Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine and back strain has been granted, but an effective date prior to January 19, 2012 is not warranted. The issue of whether new and material evidence was received in order to reopen a claim for vertigo is withdrawn.

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

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on July 24, 2012 for severe low back pain due to a service-connected disability were approved as the emergency treatment was necessary and timely.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was initially rated at 10% prior to January 12, 2011. After a remand and additional examination in October 2013, the rating was increased to 20%. The current effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to injuries suffered while on active duty, or have been aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck, upper back, and headache disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examinations did not find a direct link to service, and the examiner opined that these conditions are less likely than not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. Prior to August 12, 2014, the disability did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation than 10 percent. As of August 12, 2014, it met criteria for a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA's schedular guidelines. Service connection claims for back, respiratory, and hypertension disorders are also pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, to include as secondary to his right knee disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an updated medical opinion.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted this rating. The cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected based on direct evidence or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's Hepatitis C has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling throughout the appeal period, with symptoms of intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and additional development is needed, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the hands and chronic lumbosacral sprain, to include as secondary to service-connected status post-arthroscopy, left medial and lateral meniscus tear. The evidence received since the last final rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a low back disorder related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, render him unemployable. The case is REMANDED for a comprehensive examination to determine the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.