Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors. The psychiatric disability claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and multiple hip and knee conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

An initial rating of 30 percent for migraine-headaches is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, and a lumbar disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various psychiatric, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular disabilities that he contends began during active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he is already receiving a combined schedular rating of 100% for his service-connected disabilities, which means he does not have any single disability rated as totally disabling and thus does not meet the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, asthma, bilateral radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in lower extremities, bilateral radiculopathy of the femoral nerve in lower extremities, hypertension, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and post-operative scars of the lumbosacral spine. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to keep himself clean and presentable due to his conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA withheld payment for a month of a temporary 100% disability rating, which was awarded to the Veteran due to his back disability. The Board found this withholding improper and granted the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain due to inadequate examination and reliance on lack of documented medical treatment in the absence of lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, and spinal stenosis with intervertebral disc syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of sciatic nerve as secondary to service-connected disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy of sciatic nerve as secondary to service-connected disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that his current condition is related to an injury he sustained in active service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error and inadequate medical opinions regarding his left foot condition and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has found duty to assist errors occurred and the claims for service connection for right hand tingling, left hand tingling, lower back condition, and neck condition are remanded. Additional medical records from Charlotte Orthopedic Specialists need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with mild sensory left lower extremity S1 distribution is granted, and the issue of service connection for low back disability with radiculopathy is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and tremors, muscle rigidity and stiffness of the right upper extremity have been granted service connection. The rating for tremors has been increased to 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the neck and upper back has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the service connection for a low back disability as secondary to right total hip arthroplasty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a cervical spine disorder, a low back disorder, and a right hip disorder due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and failing to provide a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a predecisional error in the duty to assist, and requires an addendum VA opinion on whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is aggravated by his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of statutory or regulatory authority, and the AOJ correctly started payment in October 2021.

The Veteran's lumbar DDD is now rated at 30 percent effective April 15, 2022. His LLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent effective April 15, 2022.,Beginning May 9, 2023, the Veteran has been granted SMC based on statutory housebound criteria due to having a service-connected disability rated as total and additional separate and distinct service-connected disabilities ratable at 60 percent or more.