Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and a low back disability, finding that new evidence received since the previous denial supports these claims. The Veteran's symptoms of neck pain and low back pain were noted during his active duty service and have continued thereafter.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and right hip conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine conditions due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle, left shoulder, right shoulder, and lower back disabilities due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's service connection for a low back disability is granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for neurological disabilities of the right and left lower extremities, as secondary to his low back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar disability is currently rated at 10% prior to May 18, 2021 and the Board has determined that a rating of at least 40% should be granted for the entire period on appeal. The cervical spine disability and TDIU issues are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on the issues of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. The Board cannot consider evidence submitted after the September 2021 decision without proper procedural steps.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to provide an examination for the Veteran's back condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring additional development and medical opinions regarding service connection for back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new evaluation of the Veteran's lumbosacral conditions and their relation to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of February 4, 2021, based on his service-connected disabilities. His combined disability rating at that time was 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, status post left hip replacement, and osteoarthritis of the right hip. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, and degenerative arthritis are granted as service-connected.,Right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disorders.,Service connection for migraines is remanded due to a lack of opinion on their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right little finger sprain have been denied. The Veteran has been granted a 10% rating for his lumbar spondylosis.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 100% effective from the date of his January 30, 2023 supplemental claim. The other service connection claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for sinus condition, right hip condition, and back condition. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions from VA clinicians.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 14, 2007 for hypertension service connection and a separate noncompensable rating for low back scar are granted. The claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension is denied. The claim for a higher rating for low back disability is remanded. The claim for a compensable rating for left lower extremity neuropathy affecting the internal saphenous nerve is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for thoracolumbar spine DDD due to a May 2017 injury during ACDUTRA, as there is no competent medical opinion on whether the condition was aggravated by this incident.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. An additional examination must be scheduled.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities limit his employment, while the back disability has been considered in his SSA benefits. The Board finds a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities but did not refer the TDIU claim for extraschedular consideration.