Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease L5/S1 to include spondylolisthesis L5/S1 was granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent, effective from September 9, 2019. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is credible and competent evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims due to the passage of time since his last VA examinations, outstanding medical records, and incomplete treatment records.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for increased disability ratings above, and remanded several issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder with right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that her injury occurred during active duty and was caused by an in-service event.

The Board has denied service connection for lower lumbar condition, upper respiratory condition, and hearing loss. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of frostbite of bilateral hands.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and right foot disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection for other conditions, including lumbar and cervical spine disorders, right shoulder and left shoulder disorders, bilateral arm and elbow condition, left hand disorder, right foot arthritis, left foot disorder, right toe disorder (except the right great toe), and left toe disorder are granted based on presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. Service connection for other conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, including VA examinations for his acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disability, low back disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss (for VA purposes).

The Veteran is granted an effective date of September 30, 2011 for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities, all of which are directly related to in-service parachute accidents.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective addendum medical opinion regarding his lumbar spine disability, and consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's Alzheimer's disease, strokes, and seizures are being remanded for additional development as they may be related to service-connected tinnitus. The back condition claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the seizures claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and a rating of 10 percent from December 1, 2020. For his low back disability, he receives a 20 percent rating effective from December 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted. The claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with a 50% rating effective August 18, 2016. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation of the back disability and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to issues with the qualifications of VA examiners and the need to obtain recent medical records.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, and therefore, the appeal is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine condition, finding that it was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee conditions and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The effective date for the award of service connection is set at April 29, 2010.,For the period prior to January 24, 2011, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,From January 24, 2011, through September 10, 2015, the Veteran's condition did not warrant a disability rating higher than 20 percent.,Starting from September 11, 2015, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent.