Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain with intervertebral disc syndrome renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU due to this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies are still under review.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine disability has been dismissed as the appellant and their representative have withdrawn the appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of a left eyebrow scar, right ear hearing loss disability, and low back disability due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, shoulder, and headache disorders. The case is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records from non-VA providers, SSA disability benefit decisions, and VA contractor medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and migraine headaches (secondary to hypertension) as the evidence did not show a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all his pending claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disability, sleep apnea, gout, hypertension, GERD, sinus disability, chest pains, left knee disability, and back disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disability has been reopened and will be considered on the merits. The Board finds that new evidence submitted since April 2012 raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of hyperthyroidism was not reopened as there is no new and material evidence to support it.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to a back disability, and alcoholism as secondary to a back disability due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between his current disabilities and his in-service injuries or conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to her service, and therefore grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for an increased rating for lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease and migraine/tension headaches before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residual pain of the right hand and a low back condition, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions began during or were aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's left knee impairment is granted as secondary to his right knee condition, effective March 31, 2017.

The Veteran's spondylosis with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his range of motion does not limit forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, nor has it resulted in ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and service connection for headaches are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of rating for status-post right ankle avulsion fracture and TDIU due to additional evidence being added to the record since the July 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right foot disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his in-service treatment.