Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spondylosis. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements of in-service injury and ongoing symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death, which was an acute myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right wrist disability and back disability, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of August 9, 2015. The Board granted the TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities are granted as the evidence supports that these conditions were caused by injuries sustained during active duty.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for service connection grants, but the Board finds no legal basis to grant these claims.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim was reopened and granted in June 2014 with an effective date of September 17, 2012.

Service connection is granted for neck and back disabilities, but the claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder and left hip conditions are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee and left knee conditions, hearing loss, tinnitus, and back issues, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from September 25, 2017, to January 14, 2020. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, but the claims for back disability, bilateral CTS, and bilateral leg disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD. Service connection is denied for a lower back condition and tinnitus is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims through his attorney.

The Veteran's appeal of the June 2019 rating decision was dismissed because it was a concurrent election, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to address such an appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not substantially contribute to his employment handicap, and he was found employable with his current skills, experience, and education. The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits as he does not have an employment handicap.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities. The cervical spine disability claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal of the appeal by the appellant.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back condition is remanded due to the lack of an adequate medical opinion linking his current back conditions to service. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's back condition is granted as secondary to her service-connected foot condition. The claims for right and left shin splints are remanded.

The Veteran's emergency medical care at Hampshire Memorial Hospital on October 17, 2022 is eligible for payment under VA regulations due to the favorable findings in a previous authorization. The Veteran's other health insurance (Medicare A) did not fully cover the costs.

The Veteran's left foot, right foot (other than pes planus), and low back disabilities were not caused by or incurred in service.,The Veteran's right hip condition was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 40 percent evaluation from October 21, 2020 was granted. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 40 percent for service-connected lumbar disability is denied.