Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an unspecified depressive disorder was granted secondary to a service-connected back disability, effective April 7, 2006.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective July 18, 2011. The DEA eligibility was also granted on the same date.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate to address the Veteran's claim for service connection of his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, specifically due to a motor vehicle accident during service. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for coccyx fracture and lumbar strain as secondary to a left knee disability due to new and relevant evidence. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder condition and neck condition, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremity was reduced from 20% to noncompensable effective March 1, 2021.

The Veteran's left toe disability is granted a compensable rating of 20 percent.,Service connection for back, left leg, and right leg disabilities are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a psychiatric disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure by the AOJ to address the Veteran's request for revision of the June 2011 rating decision regarding compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a lumbar spine disability on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU prior to November 20, 2018 are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ will obtain relevant private hospital records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection related to lumbar spine, cervical spine, and traumatic brain injury disabilities need further review due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues related to service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's low back strain, neck disability, and right hip arthritis have been granted service connection as they are related to the in-service motor vehicle accident.,A remand is required for further development regarding the bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death.

The reduction of the rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective December 9, 2020, was improper and the 40 percent rating is restored.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for low back pain and a compensable rating for residual scar associated with pacemaker placement. The appeal regarding kidney disorder (claimed as kidney cancer) is remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further consideration of his claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the rating for his back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating of ingrown toenail has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in multiple service-connected disabilities have been dismissed. A TDIU has been granted due to the combined effect of his psychiatric and physical disabilities.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for his lumbar spine disability. The Board finds that no such claim was submitted prior to October 13, 2010.,The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination and rating determination regarding his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee, left middle finger, lower back, and left knee disabilities. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and is dismissed for all issues related to increased evaluations for various disabilities, including migraine headaches, cervical spine disability, radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran also withdrew his request for a restoration of a 30 percent disability rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 21, 2017.