Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private podiatry records. The Veteran's right foot disability is being considered as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder degenerative changes, cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and gunshot wound residuals were denied. The claim for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was granted with an earlier effective date of October 17, 2017.,The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spondylosis, degenerative disc disease; left upper extremity radiculopathy; and gunshot wound residuals were denied. The claim for residual scar posterior trunk was also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that new and relevant evidence submitted supports a link between his in-service back pain and current condition. The Board also found that the Veteran's pre-existing Scheuermann's Disease did not cause or aggravate his current lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to readjudicate the claims for bilateral foot condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, back condition, right hip condition, and migraine headaches. The issues are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back condition, herniated disc, and arthritis as the evidence does not support that these conditions began during active service or are related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not begin during service and is unrelated to any in-service injury or disease, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased ratings of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, resulting in the dismissal of these appeals.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, right lumbar radiculopathy, right ankle disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis were granted effective May 4, 2012. The claim for left lumbar radiculopathy was also granted effective May 4, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a missing medical opinion from a private provider that may be relevant to the Veteran's claim of service connection for his low back condition.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate claims are both granted due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial higher ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and earlier effective date for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy are granted. The TDIU is granted from December 4, 2008 to June 9, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right shoulder disability due to a lack of service records and potential ACDUTRA injury. The Veteran is required to provide National Guard personnel and treatment records and VA examinations are needed to determine if these disabilities are related to the 1982 injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or IVDS, thus not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for lower lumbar, right shoulder, and tinnitus due to new evidence received in September 2021. The AOJ will reconsider these claims on their merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 2, 2016. The evidence did not show that there was an increase in disability during the one-year period before the date of the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right shoulder, left shoulder, and thoracolumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations conducted in August 2021. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions regarding the severity of these conditions prior to decision.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary to obtain adequate VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, diagnosed as pes planus, is granted. The low back disorder issue has been remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and inadequate VA medical opinions. The appellant's service records are not complete, and additional VA medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all appeals seeking earlier effective dates for service connection and increased disability ratings, as the Veteran died during the appeal process.