Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in the original decision, and a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disability is related to his service.

Service connection is granted for lumbosacral spondylosis, but the claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining relevant VA treatment records and SSA disability records. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability claim will be reconsidered with these additional records.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and medical opinions provided are inadequate, as they did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee chondromalacia and lumbosacral strain are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's initial ratings for CTS of the right and left upper extremities have been granted, but his trigger finger claim is remanded due to a lack of opinion on secondary service connection. His lumbar spine disability has been granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis and strain from 20 percent to 20 percent effective as of November 12, 2024.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, is due to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lower left extremity radiculopathy secondary to degenerative disc disease was granted with an effective date of June 3, 2014. The Board found that this earlier effective date is appropriate as the condition was already in receipt of its earliest authorized date due to the direct service-connected nature.

The Board has remanded the claims of cervical spine, low back, right hip, and left hip disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset in service. The Veteran's lay statements support his contention that his current conditions are related to his military duties as a machine gunner.

The reduction of the rating for service-connected back disability from 20 percent to 10 percent was not proper, and restoration of the 20 percent rating is granted. The entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for new examination opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with the additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back condition, right knee pain, and left knee pain as secondary to a lower back condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD disorder and remanded claims for left-knee, low-back, and eye conditions. Insomnia was granted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tension headaches is denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy claims are remanded, while the left shoulder AC joint separation and PTSD claims remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ should secure an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's total service-connected disabilities, including loss of use of extremities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and a back disability have been granted.,The Veteran's low back disability has been found to be etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) are being remanded due to errors in the AOJ's decision process. The issues include scar, cervical spine disability, visual field defect, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's lower back disability is found to be related to his active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a head injury, bilateral eye disorder, heart disorder and/or chest pain, back disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, intestinal disorder, arthritis of the hands, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder have all been denied. The Board found no current diagnosis or symptoms related to these conditions.