Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and clarification of medical findings related to the Veteran's neck, low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability as secondary to the appellant's service-connected bilateral foot condition, left shoulder strain, and now-granted lumbar spine disability.,The decision also grants service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot calluses, right foot calluses, a neck disability, diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes), lower back disability, and right shoulder disability. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board's decision has been vacated due to procedural error, and the appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of information regarding the Veteran's dates of service and an insufficient nexus opinion. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is being reviewed again for proper medical evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider all relevant evidence. The Veteran's PTSD, back disability, bilateral foot disability, cervical strain, left knee condition, right parapatella tendonitis and patellar tendonosis (claimed as knee condition), left shoulder tenosynovitis, and sleep apnea are being reviewed.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates because the VA Form 10182 Decision Review Request: Board Appeal (NOD) was not timely or valid, and thus did not comply with claims-processing rules.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected migraines and cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The fourth issue regarding special monthly compensation is also remanded for proper notice.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted effective January 12, 2020.,Effective dates prior to January 12, 2020 are not warranted for the assigned disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis, finding that the current disability is related to a back injury sustained during Reserve service in July 2008.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied because the evidence did not demonstrate a factual need for such benefits due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the majority of the Veteran's need for assistance stemmed from non-service connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address the aggravation prong of secondary service connection. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's back disability is caused by or aggravated by his previously service-connected disabilities, including right knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, finding that no claim was submitted within one year of her discharge from active duty or prior to February 22, 2021.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, rated at 30 percent prior to the decision, is now granted a 60 percent rating due to incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and his active-duty service. The issues of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the issue of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 22, 2008, for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted. The Board found that the Veteran has needed regular aid and attendance since at least February 22, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for his back disability is being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the previous examination.