Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis from January 12, 2023 is dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date remains pending.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of heart disability, major depressive disorder, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and a TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the cases of lumbar spine disability and bilateral tinea pedis/tinea unguium.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his left knee, right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, and other conditions.,The Board has directed that new medical opinions be obtained to address the severity of the Veteran's disabilities since their initial award in 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, temporary total ratings due to convalescence for right and left foot bunions surgeries. The appeals are remanded due to incomplete records and internal inconsistencies in medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right bicep disability. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and back disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his low back, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his conditions.

A 50 percent rating, but no higher, for a lumbar spine disorder from January 31, 2007 to the present is granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the low back disability. The claim of entitlement to a temporary 100% evaluation due to surgery for a service-connected disability was also denied as there is no service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left shoulder, low back, and left knee disabilities due to new evidence added to the record.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The Board will address his increased rating claims from October 2015 onwards.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for low back disability and sleep apnea due to additional development being required.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity sciatica, finding that there is at least as likely as not that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for IBS, memory loss, allergic rhinitis, a respiratory condition, and a low back condition due to potential TERA exposure during the Veteran's Gulf War service.

The Veteran's claims for headaches and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to the need for further evidentiary development, including new examinations.

The Veteran's back disability is granted, and a 50% rating for PTSD is granted. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, neck condition, and left foot condition on the basis of direct service connection. The Veteran's conditions are related to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the Veteran's failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The issues include rating for back disability, service connection for TBI, CFS, and fibromyalgia.