Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and etiological opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her lumbar spine disability, cervical DDD, and left hemi-dystonia were denied. The lumbar spine disability was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to April 8, 2018, and the cervical DDD was not rated higher than 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disorders and their relationship to service.

The Board denied a TDIU from January 30, 2019, finding that the service-connected disabilities do not prevent the Veteran from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lower back disability due to insufficient evidence or lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied due to failure to attend scheduled VA examinations without good cause.,The Veteran failed to report for the required VA examinations, which were necessary to establish entitlement to benefits.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg disorder, bilateral flatfoot (pes planus), and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. However, further development is needed as the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, low back degenerative arthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to December 2, 2019. From that date onward, the rating remained at 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and was denied for a higher rating on his low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder with right lower extremity and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his right hip disorder (degenerative arthritis), finding that these conditions had their onset during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's work history prior to September 28, 2018. The Veteran is advised to complete and return an Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability (VA Form 21-8940) detailing his employment information.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her service-connected lumbosacral strain and asthma are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,A separate examination is needed to clarify whether the Veteran has left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there is no evidence of any such condition during or within one year after his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disabilities, including scoliosis. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the current diagnoses are related to service or preexisted service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain missing service treatment records and provide additional medical opinions regarding her back disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine. The issues of service connection for left and right hip condition and left and right knee condition are remanded.

The Board has partially granted the Veteran's increased rating claim, but an additional remand is necessary due to deficiencies in previous VA opinions. The case will be returned for a new VA examination and opinion addressing functional loss and retrospective impairment.

From January 1, 2009, the Veteran was granted TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.,From February 6, 2008, to January 27, 2009, a 40% rating for thoracolumbar spine disability was granted.,After January 27, 2009, the Veteran's claim for higher ratings on his knee and ankle disabilities remained denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA has been reopened, and the issue of entitlement to an effective date prior to September 24, 1969 is granted.,Service connection for TBI has been established, with an effective date of September 24, 1969.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to assess the Veteran's ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to January 29, 2020.