Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability is remanded due to the failure to notify him of his rescheduled VA examination. The matter must be returned for another examination and proper notification.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of anxiety disorder with adjustment issues, aggression (acquired psychiatric disorder), left ear hearing loss, and right eye injury. The appeal for service connection of a back disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disability, including whether it is related to service and if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 14, 2013 was denied as she had maintained gainful employment during this period despite her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his lower back condition, finding that the evidence supports a nexus between his in-service injuries and his current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, which is currently considered a direct service connection issue without any presumption or new material evidence.

The Board has decided that the evaluation for the service-connected herniated disc L5-S1, claimed as low back, needs to be reconsidered due to new evidence submitted since the April 2020 Statement of the Case.

The Board denied service connection for loss of smell, loss of taste, pseudofolliculitis barbae, left ankle disorder, left foot disorder, bilateral leg disorder other than sciatica, sleep apnea, and low back disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and a right knee condition have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for both conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's motion to vacate the August 2020 decision for his claims of service connection for a back disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. The claim for an increased rating for the left shoulder disability was not addressed under the new AMA appeal system.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings for various muscle residuals status post rhabdomyolysis due to inadequate range of motion findings in his neck, back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and feet. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these necessary examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and remanded the issue of service connection for right fifth toe disability. The decision on the back disability is that it was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to October 5, 2022 and at 20 percent beginning October 5, 2022.,Separate ratings of 10 percent were granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that his condition clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and was not aggravated by service beyond its natural progression.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities due to the Veteran's failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations despite multiple attempts by the AOJ.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury and no current disability related to that injury.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's low back disability, right shoulder disability, and PTSD due to lack of recent examinations and treatment records. The matters are also remanded for further efforts to obtain SSA earnings information and a new VA Form 21-8940.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's low back and neck disabilities, as well as his varicose veins disability.,For the low back and neck service-connected disabilities, a new VA examination is needed to evaluate their current level of severity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 24, 2008 due to her service-connected disabilities not preventing her from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied, with the exception of a partial grant of a 40 percent rating effective April 4, 2017. The case is remanded due to procedural issues.