Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for low back disability and residuals of bronchial pneumonia including COPD, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service. The claim for bilateral leg cramps is remanded.,Service connection was denied for low back disability due to lack of in-service injury or disease and no current disability related to service. Service connection was also denied for residuals of bronchial pneumonia including COPD as there was no evidence of an in-service respiratory condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been granted. The claims for stomach condition, left knee disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle fracture distal tibia and remanded his claims for initial compensable ratings for nephrolithiasis/kidney stones, degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, bicipital tendon tear, right, and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his psychiatric disability, as well as his low back and cervical spine disabilities. The remand is due to incomplete records from 1985 and the VA hospital imaging system.

The Veteran's SMC based on housebound status is denied as he does not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% or TDIU due to a single service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities and a lower back disability have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for these conditions. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, is remanded.

The Board found no evidence of the claimed disabilities during service or within one year post-service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits for a back disability and TBI, finding that VA did not properly notify them of the October 2016 rating decision. The issues are now remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected regional complex pain syndrome of left lower extremity.,Service connection has also been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and insomnia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degenerative joint disease began during service and continues to this day, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, right knee strain, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy based on the theory of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back condition and associated radiculopathies, along with his depressive disorder, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination used in the previous decision. The Veteran's lower back disorder is being reviewed again for a new opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, neck disability, and left upper extremity neurological disability due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right ankle and left knee disabilities, including any altered gait resulting from these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, right foot hallux valgus with degenerative arthritis, and left foot hallux valgus with degenerative arthritis. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's back and right knee braces, used to treat service-connected disabilities, tended to wear out or tear his clothing. The Veteran was granted annual clothing allowances for the 2011 calendar year for a back brace and a right knee brace. Shoe insoles were not granted as they did not cause damage to his clothing.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for a higher evaluation and an earlier effective date for the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lower back disability was granted, with the effective date being November 28, 2022. The current rating is 40 percent.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition has been restored to a 20 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy condition has been restored to a 10 percent disability rating.