Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency transportation due to a car accident are granted, as all criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations were met.

The Board dismissed the appeals for reducing the evaluations of various service-connected conditions, including PTSD and back disability. The Veteran did not allege any specific error in these decisions.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 17, 2017, for the grants of service connection for PTSD, a cervical spine disability, and a lumbar spine disability. The decision is based on the receipt of a formal claim within one year of the intent to file.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to provide a VA examination for service connection of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection on all issues due to an error in docketing under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further evaluation due to a lack of adequate examination and duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed because his request to reinstate the withdrawn claims was untimely.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for headaches, eczema, and low back disability due to duty-to-assist errors. The VA will need to obtain additional service treatment records and provide medical opinions addressing the onset and relationship of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal concerning the issues of hypertension, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral pes planus has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back condition, restoration of a 30 percent rating for other trauma and stressor-related disorder (psychiatric disability), and an increased rating for post-traumatic arthritis of the right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain (back disability) and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The back disability was found to be aggravated during active duty training, while the hearing loss claims were not supported by evidence showing it had onset or progression in service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's TBI is related to his military service and grants service connection for it. However, the Board has also determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish a diagnosis of PTSD since filing his claim or within close proximity thereto, thus denying service connection for PTSD. The remaining issues regarding thoracolumbar spine condition and cervical spine condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher initial ratings for his service-connected back condition, headaches, PTSD, bilateral knee conditions, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected L4-5 laminectomy/discectomy with degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1 has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 20, 2017. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain a substantially gainful occupation since March 10, 2020.

The Board has denied readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, an eye injury, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, and gonorrhea as no new and relevant evidence was received within one year of the respective decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, increased rating for lumbosacral strain, and earlier effective date for sleep disorder are being remanded.,The Board is unable to make a decision on these issues due to the need for additional evidence or information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.