Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of right shoulder, left hip, or right knee disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because they died during the pendency of their appeals for service connection for a back disability and dental condition.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple claims for service connection, including cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, headaches, ear, nose and throat (ENT) disability, hypertension, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities. The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain relevant medical records and seek expert opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lumbar strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since August 1, 2019.

The Veteran requires assistance in accomplishing daily activities and is unable to protect himself from hazards due to his service-connected conditions, including PTSD with major depressive disorder, postoperative residuals of bowel injury, back condition, abdominal scars, radiculopathy, hernia, and a scar. SMC based on the regular need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with stenosis from August 6, 2014 to April 19, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, low back disability, knee strains, shoulder strain, elbow condition, eye disability, GERD, and anxiety, were granted effective December 18, 2020.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and right hip conditions due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of discussion on relevant factors.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various gastrointestinal and spinal conditions are remanded due to incomplete records, lack of rationale in the examination reports, and other procedural errors.

The appeal is dismissed as moot because the Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) has been granted from April 30, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability and right ankle disability due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's service treatment records show he had injuries during service, but there is no evidence in the records confirming when these conditions started.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate condition, hypertension, chronic headaches, ED, GERD, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, skin condition (melanoma of neck and face), back disability, left ankle injury, right ankle disability, and right shoulder disability due to a duty to assist error.,The Veteran's service connection claims are remanded as the Board finds that VA examinations and medical opinions are required to determine whether these claimed disabilities are etiologically related to his active service or other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia is granted service connection. The claims for left inguinal hernia, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip and lumbar spine conditions due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's current hip and spine conditions are being evaluated for secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and residuals of a lipoma of the low back.,There is no current evidence showing that the Veteran has these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip condition, left hip condition, and low back condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee strain. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are aggravated by his service-connected right knee strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, PTSD, and a back disability due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining VA medical examinations and opinions related to his reported stressors and disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for migraine headaches and a back disability due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions and the need for additional evidence, including verification of duty status during active or inactive duty training.