Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition, which is currently considered service-connected under direct theory of connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied service connection for left knee and low back disabilities due to the lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20% rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, effective February 1, 2022, as the reduction was improper due to lack of improvement in function.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial disability ratings and effective dates were dismissed due to his death. The claims related to PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right posterior iliac fracture with residuals, scar from a previous injury, lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU/DEA benefits have been dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent prior to November 8, 2021 and at 20 percent since then.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy meets the criteria for a rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his vision impairment and physical conditions such as neuropathy and back pain, necessitate regular aid and attendance. The Board granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate notice and duty to assist errors. The Veteran is required to provide information about any private treatment records, which will be sought by VA.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis with spinal fusion, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected bilateral patellofemoral syndrome and Osgood-Schlatter disease.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's request for a compensable rating for his surgical scar of the lumbar spine is denied. The decision also denies service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remands the claims for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches and a disability of the neck, upper back, and/or cervical spine is being remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination. The Veteran has not established service connection for her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied because there is no factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to September 3, 2002 that would warrant an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS and left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability was denied. The case is remanded to schedule the Veteran for a VA peripheral nerve examination for the left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to duty-to-assist errors, including failure to obtain relevant private treatment records and rescheduling of VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, a chronic thoracolumbar spine disability, and a chronic cervical spine disability. The Veteran's symptoms began during his active service and have persisted since.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on this.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities resulted in the need for aid and attendance as he required care or assistance on a regular basis to feed himself, keep himself clean and presentable, and protect him from hazards or dangers inherent in his daily environment. The Board granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these cases.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a lumbar spine disability is dismissed. The Board has granted readjudication and granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of his left shoulder disability, finding that it is related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various ankle, elbow, foot, knee, and back disabilities. The appeals were dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (VA Form 10182).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, wedge fracture T11-T12, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome was denied in October 2020. The Veteran filed a supplemental claim on November 29, 2021, which resulted in service connection being granted effective that date.