Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's somatic symptom disorder is granted service connection, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding PTSD ratings and back disability ratings.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 3, 2006 for the grant of service connection for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and corresponding Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k) for loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, and left knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for hypercholesterolemia and multiple myeloma have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,For the remaining conditions, the Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is related to his service, including his in-service lumbar injury and chronic back pain.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and lumbosacral strain have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and neurological disorders due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lower back and left knee disabilities, including rating determinations for various periods of time. The case is being returned for further action based on a retrospective opinion addressing the state of the Veteran's disabilities throughout the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and bases, as well as issues related to obtaining medical records. The Veteran's back disorder will be reviewed again with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 3, 2016. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined evaluation of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability was rated at 10 percent from August 10, 1990, to December 25, 2019. The Board denied a higher rating as the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on VA regulations.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and digestive disorder are granted as service-connected, with the latter being considered a chronic undiagnosed illness related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 20 percent since March 3, 2016. The Board denied an increased disability rating in September 2023 and the Court issued a JMPR in July 2024, which remanded the issue to the Board for further consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches secondary to the Veteran's service-connected colon cancer, but denied service connection for a low back disorder and Gulf War Syndrome or undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to clarify the Veteran's diagnoses and determine if his disabilities are related to service. The appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbosacral sprain/strain disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 13, 2023, and denied for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in a previous VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back strain. The matter is now being reviewed for an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain (lumbar spine disability) was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not manifested to unfavorable ankylosis, and thus a higher rating is not warranted.