Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, low back, left foot (including numbness), and right foot disabilities due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Board is requesting further evidence and examination to determine the nature, onset, and etiology of his left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's statements are credible and consistent with his combat service. The decision is based on resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating of the Veteran's lower back condition and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's lower back condition, boils (groin area and under arms), and right knee disability are not service-connected. The Board has remanded these claims for further development.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied as there is no indication that the proximate cause of the Veteran's additional disabilities was due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is remanded due to inadequate prior VA examinations and a need for a retrospective opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluation and service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of these appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for her lumbar spine disability. The case is being remanded to determine if she has any neurological impairment in her lower extremities that may be related to her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for VA benefits due to new evidence submitted, but has remanded the issue of whether the character of the Servicemember's discharge constitutes a bar to the payment of VA benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and lumbar spine disability. The claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear examination reports and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include PTSD, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as inadequate examinations. The issues of low back disability, right ankle disability, bilateral wrist disability, and left knee disability are now before the Board.

An effective date of April 30, 2013 is granted for the award of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the thoracolumbar spine.,An earlier effective date of April 30, 2013 is granted for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.,An earlier effective date of April 30, 2013 is granted for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.,An earlier effective date prior to April 30, 2013 is denied for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's death was caused by a probable accident resulting from combined drug toxicity. Service connection for the cause of death is granted, but accrued benefits and nonservice-connected death pension benefits are denied due to untimely filing.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities were granted, but an effective date earlier than January 13, 2017 is denied.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to January 23, 1998.

The appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease prior to July 30, 2015 is denied. The appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease since July 30, 2015 is also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40 percent rating, effective November 11, 2020. The TDIU for the period from April 11, 2012, to November 11, 2020, was also granted.

The claim for service connection of a back disability is reopened, and the case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.