Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to determine the severity of his low back disability and TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back, neck, knee, and stomach conditions. The cases are being returned to provide VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for fecal incontinence (claimed as bowel condition) and an increased rating for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, and remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral upper extremity peripheral nerve disability and a low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The issues of service connection for cervical spine strain, lumbar spine strain, bilateral ankle lateral ligament strain, cephalgia headaches, myelodysplastic syndrome, and traumatic brain injury are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, hypertension, heart disability, stroke residuals, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals were not granted due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, broken leg, right knee, and lower back conditions have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities have been granted a 20% rating, effective prior to April 5, 2022. The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy has also been granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, claiming it as degenerative discs, due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted increased ratings of 20% prior to June 9, 2017 and 40% from that date. The Board found the evidence in approximate balance regarding the extent of the Veteran's range of motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and an abdominal aneurysm have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these appeals as they are not about service connection.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA medical opinion to clarify whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his active service, including his history of an arachnoid cyst and post-service occupational history.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no credible evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the RO has not obtained a functional impairments assessment of his service-connected disabilities, both individually and in concert.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right wrist, ankle, knee, hip, left knee, back, sciatica, and psychiatric disorders are all denied as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine due to new information regarding her exposure to toxic agents during service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to March 28, 2014 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU and there is no evidence of unemployability due to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, cervical spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions regarding incidents in service that could have caused her current disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability was previously rated at 10 percent, but from January 21, 2021, a higher rating of 20 percent is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and employee health nursing notes.