Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding the Veteran's statements about her back pain and symptoms from service to be not credible due to implausibility given the lack of documented treatment or complaints in service records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of flat feet and a lumbosacral strain/lumbar spine disorder due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, diagnosed lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis. The claims for right lower extremity radiculopathy and pelvic disability were remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in medical evidence and need for clarification regarding the severity of his spinal conditions.

The Board has determined that the RO has not substantially complied with its remand directive and the case is being remanded for addendum medical opinions to address both direct service connection and secondary service connection theories.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his time in active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to one service-connected disability, finding that he was not rendered unemployable based on only one of his service-connected disabilities. The decision is binding only with respect to this specific matter and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for myofascial pain in chest and neck have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability (claimed as myofascial pain in back) has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate prior examinations. Additional VA examination opinions are needed, including one addressing the impact of flare-ups on range of motion.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 50 percent since July 9, 2018. The appeal is granted for these ratings.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent from January 28, 2009 to September 30, 2019. The rating is denied as the evidence does not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records, specifically a 2013 neck x-ray from El Centro Regional Medical Center. The Veteran's claims file needs to be updated with this information.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining clarification of the Veteran's dates of service and for new medical opinions regarding the etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of urinary stress incontinence was denied as the evidence did not show that his bladder condition arose prior to April 4, 2020.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his disability rating was reduced to 90 percent from May 1, 2022. He does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU based on a single disability rated at 40% or more and sufficient additional disabilities to bring the combined overall rating to 70% or more.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including those related to lumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain, left foot strain, right foot strain, migraines, hearing loss, anxiety condition, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).

The Board has granted the appellant's claim of service connection for thoracolumbar strain, finding that it began during active service and is related to her military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and a chronic lumbar spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence of aggravation beyond its natural progression during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is the primary factor in his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. Other conditions, such as left knee strain, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, lumbosacral strain, right foot hallux valgus, and left foot hallux valgus, also contribute but do not significantly impact his employability.