Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 9, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating more than 20 percent for lumbar degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and spondylolisthesis, or cervical degenerative joint disease (DJD) status post cervical fusion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a back condition due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and service treatment records. The Veteran's periods of active duty, ADT, IDT, and Reserve service need to be confirmed.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of February 17, 2012 for service connection of lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The increased rating claims are remanded to assign initial ratings and readjudicate the cases.

The Board has remanded the case for adjudication of claims regarding effective dates for increased ratings, including consideration of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the November 2017 Rating Decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury and that he experienced chronic back pain post-service.

The Board has determined that there is a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the claim for service connection for a back disability must be remanded for another examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has remanded several issues, including bilateral sinus condition, right hip disability, left hip disability, bilateral eye condition, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability, and compensable rating for hemorrhoids.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and disability ratings related to various knee and hip conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection as the appellant's lumbar spine disability did not occur during a period of active duty or training.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and an earlier effective date for service connection is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder (claimed as severe back condition with pain) is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability, finding that his current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a low back disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate opinions in prior VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee pain is related to his service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and remands the case for further development.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 21, 2013 for the award of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis and for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since at least May 21, 2013.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with gait disturbance status post-surgery disability is rated at 20 percent prior to November 18, 2019 and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with gait disturbance status post-surgery disability is rated at 40 percent from November 18, 2019 and denied for a higher rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spinal stenosis is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome and left upper extremity radiculopathy are dismissed.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 40 percent disability rating for his service-connected back strain and spondylolisthesis. The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue regarding service connection for a low back disability before the Board could make a decision.