Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for back disability and right shoulder disability, but remanded the claim for tinea pedis due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The other claims, including those related to left and right lower extremity neuropathy, are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including a right fifth finger disability, gastroesophageal disorder (GERD), lumbar spine condition, shifted pelvis, and neurological conditions of the upper and lower extremities. The AOJ is instructed to review this new evidence in their first instance.

The claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied.,New evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for arthritis of the left hand, right hand, right knee, low back, nasal fracture, sinus disability, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and lung disability.

The Veteran's claim for lumbar spine disability was reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury is granted.,TDIU benefits are granted, with the issue of a higher rating for right ankle disability being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for heart disability, prostate cancer, and back disability due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The Veteran's complete personnel records need to be associated with the claims file.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a fractured coccyx and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than OCD. The low back disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right hip disability claims are remanded.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking them to service.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, effective from August 28, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bladder condition is recharacterized as one for a neurologic low back disability, to include bladder symptoms. The Board finds an examination and records review are necessary due to the lack of medical evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's neurologic back disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to June 6, 2022 was denied. The claims for right leg radiculopathy and right knee conditions were partially granted with some issues still denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions due to incomplete development of records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine DDD, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination reports and new evidence.

The Veteran's breast cancer and any residuals thereof are not etiologically related to her active service, and were not present within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's back disability did not have its onset during her first period of active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to such service. The arthritis was also not present to a compensable degree within one year of her service separation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to outstanding medical records and VA medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings as the Veteran timely opted into the modernized appeals process under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). The claims of service connection for PTSD, low back disability, TBI, and peripheral neuropathy have been granted in full.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his back disability were dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's lower back disorder, requiring further examination and assessment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and ankle conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from October 22, 2010 to March 8, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease with IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine and associated lower extremity radiculopathies due to issues related to the adequacy of medical examinations and whether the Board had jurisdiction over the radiculopathy rating issues.