Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding her claimed conditions, as well as a review of the evidence related to toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development regarding potential exposure to PFAS firefighting foam and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his shoulder conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis, cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis, LLE radiculopathy with foot drop, and RLE radiculopathy with foot drop. The evidence of record does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational history.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea versicolor. The remaining claims of service connection for a back disorder, left-sided radial nerve disorder, and right ankle disorder are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lumbar spine condition is related to his service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it is directly caused by his service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated as TDIU effective February 21, 2024.,SMC at the housebound rate is granted effective February 21, 2024.,An initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.,A higher rating of hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination in the previous decision. A new VA examination is required to assess the current severity of the Veteran's disability.

The Veteran's low back disability, associated with a torn medial meniscus of the left knee, is rated at 40 percent prior to March 9, 2023. From that date forward, his condition does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, eczema, cervical disability, and back disability due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for an extra-schedular TDIU prior to January 31, 2018 is remanded due to insufficient evidence of unemployability by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee/leg, right knee/leg, and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

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

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective June 15, 2021, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date and service connection were dismissed due to concurrent elections under the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back condition and remanded the issue of service connection for gout.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring the AOJ to obtain a new VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as his forward flexion is limited to at most 50 degrees and there is no evidence of ankylosis or unfavorable ankylosis.