Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease with myelomalacia - cervical spine is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board will seek an addendum opinion from the VA examiner to address whether the current cervical spine disability is related to active service.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted with an effective date of November 2, 2014. The Board found that the service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment as early as November 2, 2014.,VA has a duty to maximize benefits for the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various hand, hip, back, and foot conditions due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, and sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back condition, radiculopathy RLE as secondary to lower back condition, and radiculopathy LLE as secondary to lower back condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain (progressive), right leg weakness and lack of coordination, and left leg weakness and lack of coordination. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are related to in-service events, illness, or injury.,The Board found that the medical opinions did not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's current back pain and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to a lack of adequate VA medical examinations or medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits, but has remanded his claim for an increased rating for back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a back condition due to a procedural error, as the Veteran's appeal was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision or 60 days after an SOC.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's neck condition is secondary to his service-connected back condition.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the claims of erectile dysfunction, lumbosacral strain, and degenerative arthritis of the spine are remanded.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the duty to assist and remands several issues for further development, including psychiatric disorders, back disability, sleep apnea, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including somatic symptom disorder and related spinal conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disorders due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of current disabilities or functional impairment resulting from such conditions.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 3, 2018 for the grant of a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding various service connection claims due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

Your appeal has been dismissed as moot because your service connection claim for a back disability was granted in a July 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his MDD and lumbosacral strain has been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in the prior decision.,For TDIU, the effective date is also being remanded as there was not proper consideration of whether referral for extraschedular consideration was warranted.