Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further development regarding cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder disability, right ear hearing loss, or left ear hearing loss due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50% effective from the date of the decision, and his left shoulder strain remains at 20%. Service connection for back condition, right shin splints, and left shin splints are granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal. The claims for service connection and increased ratings are not before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates prior to October 14, 2020, for service connection were denied as the new evidence received after the November 2012 rating decision was not relevant to his claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for low back disability and right shoulder disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.,New evidence has been submitted that suggests current diagnoses of low back disability and right shoulder disability, but these need to be confirmed by VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc and joint disease, left femoral nerve radiculopathy, right femoral nerve radiculopathy, right sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy have been granted initial disability ratings. The appeal is remanded for further consideration of the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is denied. The TDIU was granted with an effective date of July 12, 2021, which corresponds to the date of his increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination in connection with his DDD claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for his bilateral knee osteoarthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and left ankle strain. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural errors in the initial rating decisions. The Board is unable to review evidence submitted after the RO's Rating Decision on appeal, but will consider it during the remand process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back pain with L4-L5 disc protrusion, bilateral radiculopathy, and bilateral knee disabilities were denied as the Veteran refused to report for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and low back disability are related to service, but his right ankle condition is not. The case is being remanded for further development.,Service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to potential pre-service existence of the condition and possible aggravation by a service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine stenosis and remanded the issues of a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic low back strain with history of herniated nucleus pulposus, L4-5, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since June 2019, leading to a TDIU effective from June 4, 2020.

The Veteran's left knee, right knee, and back disabilities are all granted service connection.,An effective date of November 4, 2017, is granted for the 10% rating increase for a painful surgical thyroid scar.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ must obtain records from Dr. K.D., who previously owned the medical practice of Dr. T.G., where the Veteran received treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck disability and its relationship to his service-connected compression fracture.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The Veteran's bilateral knee, low back, and hearing loss disabilities were found to have worsened prior to October 24, 2013, but no other service-connected conditions worsened in the one-year period preceding the claim.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 30, 2009 for the grant of a TDIU and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 3, 2019.,TDIU is granted from June 3, 2019. The appeal for TDIU from October 9, 2018 to June 3, 2019 is remanded.