Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability, back disability, and cervical spine disability due to inadequate VA opinions in previous decisions. The claims will be reviewed again with new addendum opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability as secondary to the service-connected pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance and housebound status due to insufficient evidence showing he is rendered permanently homebound or in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding service connection for a low back disability, which is currently considered secondary to service-connected bilateral chondromalacia patella. The Veteran contends his current condition is related to service or caused by his service-connected knee condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues with scheduling VA examinations at an incarcerated veteran's facility. The Veteran is required to be examined at Aleda E. Lutz VAMC.

The Veteran's claim for higher staged ratings for his lumbar spine disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what is currently assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is granted, with the condition related to his active service and his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left ankle, migraines, and left elbow disabilities have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.,Service connection for hypertension was also denied as the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations to assess her thoracolumbar disability, left knee disabilities, and scars.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding entitlement to increased ratings for a psychiatric condition, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, and service connection for a left knee disability due to the appellant's withdrawal of his/her appeals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate compensable ratings are being remanded due to the need for further development of the evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back condition must be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record. The Veteran will need to undergo another VA examination to determine if his back condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50% since April 17, 2018, based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.,The Veteran is also granted entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to work in any substantially gainful capacity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bursitis, pruritis, arthritis, low back disability (claimed as secondary to PTSD), sleep disorder, kidney infection, respiratory condition (claimed as COPD/emphysema), and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) have all been denied. The evidence does not establish a current disability or link between the claimed conditions and service.,The Veteran's claims for bursitis, pruritis, arthritis, low back disability (claimed as secondary to PTSD), sleep disorder, kidney infection, respiratory condition (claimed as COPD/emphysema), and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) have not been reopened due to the lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to December 26, 2019 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The Board denied higher ratings for the condition in both periods.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new legislation and incomplete service records, including potential active duty service in Afghanistan.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease and spondylosis L4-5 and L5-S1 was granted with an effective date of April 15, 2003.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left hip disability, and right hip disability due to incomplete development of records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 22, 2017 for the grants of service connection for PTSD, tinea versicolor, and IBS are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for impaired vision (refractive error), neck disability, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all denied.