Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for low back and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining relevant private treatment records. The Board will consider the evidence of record at the time of the August 2022 AOJ supplemental claim decision on appeal, but any evidence submitted after that date will be considered by the AOJ.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left ankle, left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the November 2022 rating decision. The Veteran's claims will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an additional right shoulder disability resulting from treatment at a VA medical center in March 2014 is denied.

The Board has determined that the June 2022 rating decision severing service connection for bilateral hearing loss was improper and remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with disc degeneration is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,From May 9, 2017 to September 8, 2020, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10 percent. From September 9, 2020 to June 28, 2021, it was rated at 10 percent. After that period, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the low back is rated at 20 percent, and his right total knee replacement residuals are rated at 60 percent. The ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and meniscal tear remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for her lumbar spine disability is denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is abandoned, leaving no question of law or fact to decide regarding the TDIU issue. The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to substantially comply with prior remand instructions. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back strain is now before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pneumonia, right shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, neck disorder, osteopenia of the bilateral hands, wrists, hips, ankles and feet, and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine has been denied. The Board found no current disability related to any of these conditions at the time of filing or during the pendency of his claim.,The Veteran's assertions regarding in-service injuries were not credible due to a significant lapse in time between service and post-service medical treatment, as well as inconsistencies with contemporaneous records.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC claims were denied as her service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, PTSD, sleep apnea, and lumbar strain, did not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the Veteran was able to work during the appeal period despite missing some days due to her migraines.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain his civilian treatment records from Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana and private treatment records from Fall Creek Family Medicine.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, as well as new evidence of worsening since previous evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain and L5-S1 herniated nucleus pulposus. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes in the right and left ankles, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The disability ratings have been increased to 20 percent effective October 31, 2013.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from November 1, 2016, to March 24, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current back disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, dry eyes, skin rash, sarcoidosis, IBS, and acid reflux. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are based on direct evidence of their onset during or shortly after his military service.