Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's cervical spine DDD and TDIU benefits, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased ratings or entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection and increased rating, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess his conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for hypertension, GERD, and thoracic outlet syndrome due to potential exposure during a TERA. Service connection is granted for allergic rhinitis, cervical degenerative disc disease, and IBS.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease with osteoarthritis, was incurred in service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, left hip residuals status post labral repair, and right foot plantar fasciitis due to credible lay evidence of continuous symptoms since separation from active duty.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD and migraines, as well as service connection for low back, bilateral hip, and fibromyalgia disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The appeals for service connection of a lower back condition and high blood pressure are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, lumbar spine surgical scars, and bilateral eye disability. The TDIU rating claim is also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for neck disability, head injury (including TBI and headaches), low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss. These issues are being remanded to allow for further development of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the evaluation for his service-connected back disability, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as secondary to service-connected allergic sinusitis. The issues of whether the character of discharge and service connection for psychiatric disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, arthritis of the cervical spine, and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from February 20, 2015 to January 3, 2021 due to service-connected seizure disorder. Simultaneously, SMC at the housebound rate was also granted for this period.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and rating determinations. The main reasons are to obtain missing service treatment records and private medical records, as well as to determine whether new evidence supports reopening of certain claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral lumbar radiculopathy, finding that her current condition is related to military service and began in service in 1991.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities resulted in a temporary total rating for convalescence and SMC based on housebound criteria from November 1, 2018, to February 1, 2019. The extension of the rating was granted due to complications following surgery.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar disability.,From January 9, 2015 to April 19, 2016, the Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected lumbar disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine pain, PTSD, and a sleep disorder. The case is remanded to allow for further development of these issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain, right knee disability, and left shoulder disability due to his failure to report for necessary VA examinations.