Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's back disability prior to October 20, 2016 was rated at 20 percent and denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and is now being reconsidered. The new evidence submitted by the Veteran suggests he may have had a current back disability, but it does not establish a link to his military service.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of July 20, 2016 for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran was also granted an effective date of July 20, 2016 for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) eligibility based on his TDIU award.

The Veteran's appeal regarding increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, and left shoulder strain was remanded. The appeal as to the issue of an increased rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral flat feet, low back disability, right knee disability, and tinnitus. Service connection was denied for a right hip disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, and skin disorder due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions had onset in active service or were otherwise causally connected.,There is no presumptive service connection available as the Veteran served fewer than 90 days.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are granted service connection, while her lumbar spine disability is granted a higher rating from March 22, 2017.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several issues, including PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, left palm scar, hypertension, and right wrist ulnar styloid unfused apophysis. The Veteran is also seeking TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc and joint disease, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 20 percent or 30 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active service or to his service-connected left ankle arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back disability and right knee disability due to inadequate VA examinations in previous decisions. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to assess his current functional impairment during flare-ups, with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment starting September 1, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease due to inadequate previous examinations. The issue of TDIU is also remanded as it may be impacted by the results from the spine examination.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding VA, Vet Center, and private treatment records which need to be obtained in order to make a fully informed decision on the Veteran's claims. The Veteran is also required to provide updated information regarding her employment status.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back disability has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during its pendency.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria and he was gainfully employed throughout the relevant period.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus, and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease as secondary to service-connected pes planus.