Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded this claim for further evaluation. The effective date of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance remains June 23, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, to include as secondary to his service-connected left knee conditions, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs further examination to determine if the Veteran's current lower back condition is related to his service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent for the period from April 26, 2021, to September 6, 2021. A higher rating is not warranted during this time frame.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic blood infection, lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, prostate cancer, right knee disability, and right foot disability. The claims are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left lower extremity below the knee amputation, scar, and lumbar spine disability have been denied. The evidence does not support higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran is also granted special monthly compensation due to the need for higher level aid and attendance related to his traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied. The Board has remanded the cases for additional development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder, diagnosed as rotator cuff tendinopathy, subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, is granted service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran's back disability, right leg shin splints, left leg shin splints, left shoulder disorder, and bilateral foot disorder are not service connected.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain. The rating for the lumbar strain remains at 40 percent, and a TDIU is granted from December 1, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the retrospective opinion regarding the degree of functional loss during flare-ups and repetitive use over time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 5, 2016. The Board granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further review and consideration of additional evidence, including VA examination reports.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal, effectively dismissing the case.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral lower extremity numbness and tingling, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU from September 1, 2018.