Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of your appeal. The Board does not have jurisdiction to decide the merits of this case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service and that any current low back disability is not related to service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that June 23, 2002 is the earliest possible date from which service connection may be granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for neck and low back disabilities, as well as a bilateral shoulder disability (now claimed as strain or osteoarthritis) secondary to these conditions.,The Veteran's neck and low back disabilities have been rated based on their severity under VA guidelines.

The Veteran's increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine from July 6, 2022 is granted to a 40 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's low back disability has been granted an earlier effective date of August 26, 2010.,An increased rating to 40 percent for the low back disability was granted from August 26, 2010, through October 30, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, painful joints, aching muscles, pes planus, and headaches.,Service connection was granted for headache disability.

The Board has found that the RO substantially complied with the October 2021 Board remand directives. Another remand is necessary to ensure a complete and adequate record upon which to decide the Veteran's claims for dermatitis, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for osteoarthritis, a back disability, and headaches due to inadequate examinations in previous remands.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected herniated disc of the lumbar spine, L5-S1, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at 40 percent, 20 percent, and 10 percent respectively. The appeals for higher ratings have been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete opinions provided in July 2022. The Veteran's low back disability is being reviewed for direct service connection, secondary service connection, and aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for back disability, psychiatric disability (PTSD), right knee disability, left knee disability, headache disability, and esophageal disability. The remaining issues are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for lower back, right knee (including degenerative arthritis), left knee, neck, right shoulder, and left ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted as the VA medical opinions found no link between current disabilities and in-service injuries.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral knee disability are granted service connection.,Service connection for a bilateral ankle disability is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and low back disorder, finding no evidence of onset or causation in service. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability from June 27, 2011, to September 1, 2016, was also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA and SSA records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities in combination precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to March 19, 2008.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, upper back (neck strain), right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and sinus condition due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.