Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is rated at 40 percent from July 11, 2013. The claim for a higher rating is denied as of June 4, 2019.

The Veteran's lower back disability is granted as service-connected, with the claim for acquired psychological disorder to include persistent depressive disorder being remanded.,Secondary service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but remanded the claims for tailbone injury and left hip disability due to incomplete records.

The Board denied service connection for DJD of the right and left shoulders, as well as a back disorder. The claim for DJD of the left wrist was remanded.

The appeals for various disability ratings and effective dates related to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for cause of death is remanded due to new and relevant evidence. The VA will readjudicate this issue in the first instance, taking into consideration all of the evidence of record within the applicable period.

VA correctly calculated and paid retroactive compensation benefits to the Veteran for the period from November 2020 through May 2022, but denied additional retroactive payments as no VA compensation benefits were withheld beginning June 1, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease (DJD). The Veteran did not have current diagnoses of these conditions, and his claim was based on direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that his current back disability did not have its onset in service or was otherwise related to active duty.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reconsider the claim of service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's Social Security Administration records need to be obtained.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reconsider the claim of service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's Social Security Administration records need to be obtained.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as they are now moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back and neck conditions, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and a sleep disorder. The evidence submitted was found to be new but not relevant to the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease (DJD) have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for these conditions based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, claimed as lumbar spine disc bulge, is granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The case is remanded for further review by the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to a duty-to-assist error in not obtaining VA treatment records from the 1970s. The Veteran is required to provide complete copies of these records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cardiomyopathy and right lower extremity conditions, result in the loss or use of one lower extremity, requiring assistance with locomotion. The Board grants entitlement to specially adapted housing but dismisses the claim for a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and/or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.