Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided at the time of the January 2022 decision were inadequate, and thus remands the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he is capable of functioning in a sedentary work environment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disability, post-concussive headaches with a noncompensable initial evaluation, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with an initial 10 percent evaluation. The Veteran's claims are denied for higher ratings.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic low back condition, dysphagia/difficulty swallowing, right knee condition, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome as the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's TDIU and femoral nerve radiculopathy ratings have been denied as the earliest date that it is factually ascertainable that he developed these conditions was May 19, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, finding that there was no nexus between his current condition and his active-duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, a low back condition, and right and left knee conditions have been granted.

The Board found that the calculation of the combined disability rating from November 5, 2010 to January 26, 2022 was correct at 40 percent. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was dismissed because her Notice of Disagreement did not identify any specific issues in the April 2021 rating decision she appealed.

Effective dates of January 7, 2004 for service connection granted for tooth loss due to trauma and lumbosacral strain and degenerative joint disease thoracic spine. The Veteran's effective date was determined based on receipt of new and material evidence in the form of previously unavailable service department records.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the low back and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from May 15, 2009 to October 4, 2015. The issue of TDIU prior to May 15, 2009 is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine conditions due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability, including as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the original decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period of appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a low back disability is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions were denied. The claim for migraines was not granted, and the remaining claims were readjudicated but ultimately denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further action due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for additional medical opinions.