Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disorder, and a psychiatric disorder due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure, bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, and vasectomy scar residuals have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, prostate disability, skin disabilities, right ankle disability, esophageal disability, hemorrhoids, and left eye disability are being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for recurrent lumbar spine disability (including degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis), recurrent right knee disability (including osteoarthritis), recurrent prostate disability (including benign prostate hyperplasia), recurrent skin disability (including tinea versicolor, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and eczema), recurrent right ankle disability (including cellulitis), recurrent esophageal disability (GERD), hemorrhoids, and acquired left eye disability (including corneal abrasion and cataract) are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of complete service records, specifically those from the Veteran's Reserve service in Afghanistan. The VA will need to obtain these records and verify his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for back and neck disabilities was improper, as well as the severance of service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as none of his service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and there is no evidence that they render him unemployable.

The Board has found that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and left shoulder disabilities must be remanded for addendum medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran had continuous symptoms of tinnitus since service separation. Service connection was denied for a low back disorder due to lack of evidence of current disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper back disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and disabilities manifesting in both arms due to a lack of current disabilities related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain as secondary to hallux valgus, but has remanded the issue of bilateral radiculopathy secondary to lumbar strain.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disorder and denied service connection for acute sinusitis, gastroenteritis, a plantar wart, plantar fasciitis, and a right shoulder disorder. The decision is based on the evidence showing continuous symptoms of these conditions during or after active duty service.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has ordered the development of a supplemental examination report for the Veteran's lumbar disability, including degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. The appeal is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues are related to whether these conditions are related to her active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left hip strain and lumbosacral strain have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral strain have not improved to warrant restoration of the previously assigned ratings.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. No service connection is granted for any condition.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was first diagnosed during active duty for training in June 2013. The Board granted service connection based on the evidence showing a chronic condition since that time.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, as his disabilities do not significantly impair his ability to perform daily activities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back condition has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this matter as the appellant is deceased.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain, Parkinsonism, and depression, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for headaches. The low back condition is considered secondary to the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. Headaches are not service-connected.