Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, finding that there is at least a balance of evidence to support the claim and resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to her inability to use assistive devices as a normal mode of locomotion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back, lower extremities, shoulder, ankle, wrist, and knee conditions, have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, low back, right foot, and left foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for urinary problems, bowel impairment, and degenerative disc disease have been dismissed as the RO has granted service connection for these conditions in full.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since August 15, 2020. The effective date for service connection of left lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted as June 10, 2019. Right lower extremity radiculopathy was not shown until the August 15, 2019 VA examination.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to August 15, 2020 and denied for a higher rating since then.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, but the Board finds no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting criteria for a higher rating. The scar associated with the lumbar spine disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right and left knee disabilities, which are currently not in dispute. However, VA treatment records related to these conditions have not been obtained. The Board must therefore remand to obtain these records.,Radiculopathy of the lower extremities is rated at 20 percent each, with no evidence of higher ratings. Separate ratings for other disabilities associated with the knee are also not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his service-connected lumbar spine disability is denied. The Board has remanded the issue due to conflicting evidence and further clarification needed.

The Veteran's residuals lumbar strain with myositis is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including back, neck, lower extremity radiculopathy, knee, ankle, and hypertension. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.,Service connection was denied as there was no credible medical evidence linking any current disability to service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and a low back disorder, both of which were found not to be related to the Veteran's service or service-connected right knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided for the Veteran's bilateral feet, left ankle, left hip, and lumbar spine were inadequate. The claims are being remanded to obtain a new and adequate VA opinion to determine whether these disabilities were caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity and extent of his condition during specific time periods. The case is returned to the RO for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated obesity, which in turn caused OSA. The Veteran must provide addendum VA examination opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and a lower back condition, finding that new evidence supports reopening of these previously denied claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of 10 percent for thoracolumbar spine strain, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and hypertension, finding that the persuasive weight of the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions, but the Board finds that no such effective dates are warranted based on the evidence of record.,For his back disability, the Veteran seeks an earlier effective date due to CUE in a March 2012 rating decision. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, and psychiatric disabilities are currently pending.