Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The appeals for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU have been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative. The Board has dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis, and left knee tendonitis are all found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's ratings for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy from 20 percent to 20 percent, effective June 1, 2022.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left knee disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's total disability rating due to service-connected disabilities was granted prior to May 19, 2021. From May 19, 2021, the issue of TDIU is moot as his combined disability rating reached 100%.

The Board has denied service connection for various hand and knee disabilities, as well as a cervical spine disability. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of her right hip disability as secondary to her service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he does not meet the criteria for this benefit.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions based on incomplete examination records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain complete service personnel records, including those from the United States Army Reserve, verify all active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA) dates, and provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the disabilities are related to any verified periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's low back disability and associated radiculopathy in the bilateral lower extremities have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, heart condition, dyslipidemia, left hip condition, right hip condition, back condition, respiratory condition, sleep apnea, and carpal tunnel syndrome due to potential exposure to fine particulate matter in Southwest Asia. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic neck disability during service and no credible medical opinion linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection and TDIU due to lack of evidence showing he became unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment within a year prior to his July 2020 filing.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain, which resolved the Veteran's claim. The issue of service connection for back injury is now dismissed as it was fully addressed by the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities remain at 20 percent each. Other conditions have been addressed or denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for these conditions based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar spine disability, herpes simplex, and TBI service connection issues due to insufficient evidence or error in development.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to September 13, 2021 for the grant of a 20 percent rating for cervical spine disability. The evidence did not show that the Veteran was entitled to a higher rating before this date.

The Board has remanded all of the Veteran's claims due to a lack of VA examinations and for obtaining additional medical records. The claims include service connection for CFS, fibromyalgia, back disability, neck disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.