Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic back condition during active duty or within one year after separation. The Board concluded that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease is more likely due to natural aging than military service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 13, 2017 are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for her scar is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in the initial rating decision. A new opinion is needed to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his back pain and its continuity since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied, while her TDIU and SMC on the basis of statutory housebound status were granted.

The Board has identified errors in obtaining the Veteran's Reserve service records and remanded for further development, including obtaining private treatment records. The issues of service connection for back and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claim for a low back disability as moot because it was granted in a previous decision. The right shoulder disability claim is granted based on evidence showing its onset during active duty service.

Effective dates of September 2, 2020 and January 23, 2020 have been granted for the awards of service connection for painful low back scars and lower extremity radiculopathies.,A temporary total rating has been granted from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021 for a back disability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 21, 2021 for service connection of a low back disability was denied because there is no evidence that the Veteran filed such a claim before then.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical canal and foraminal stenosis and degenerative disc disease, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to an in-service neck strain. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied a rating for left ankle disability in excess of 10 percent and has remanded the claims for cervicothoracic spine pain, bilateral acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. The remaining issues have been remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the lumbar spine condition, urinary frequency, and bilateral foot condition was dismissed as his February 2022 notice of disagreement did not express disagreement with a valid rating decision.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective September 1, 2018. The decision also remanded the issue of TDIU prior to September 1, 2018 for referral to the Director of Compensation Services for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis was denied. The case is remanded for further review of her low back disability and TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of lumbosacral strain, finding that there is no nexus between his in-service back injury and his current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since February 2, 2019. Effective that date, he is granted TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is rated at 10 percent, as the evidence does not show marked limited motion of the ankle.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is currently rated at 20 percent due to incapacitating episodes having a total duration of less than 4 weeks during the past 12 months.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation higher than 10 percent for various service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the knees and lumbar spine, left elbow bursitis, and rotator cuff tendonitis of the shoulder. The remand is due to inadequate examination reports that do not provide specific findings regarding range of motion loss due to pain.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lower back condition and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his low back disability was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis, incapacitating episodes, or associated objective neurological abnormalities. The current 20% rating is maintained.