Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected tinnitus alone does not render him unemployable, and the other conditions do not impact his employability.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities. These issues are being remanded to allow for further review.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability was denied as the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees or combined range of motion not greater than 120 degrees, despite experiencing pain and flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to address all theories of entitlement raised, specifically the theory of aggravation. The Veteran's low back disability is being requested to be reviewed by another examiner to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lower back disability is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disability, including potential service connection and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including any secondary effects on his service-connected left ankle disability, is not related to his military service and thus denied the claim. The decision is remanded due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back condition was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability resulted in forward flexion of at worst 50 degrees, with no ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine or entire spine. The Board found that the overall disability picture for the appeal period is not severe enough to warrant assignment of an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for lower back disability, headache disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. The Veteran's request to withdraw her appeal regarding sleep apnea was granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are denied as the earliest date of increase in disability is March 31, 2020.,Basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also denied as there was no permanent total service-connected disability prior to March 31, 2020.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disorder and gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, finding that the disorders are not related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date of the 70% rating for persistent depressive disorder was granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated at 20 percent for the entire period on appeal. The Board denied increased ratings as there is no evidence of worsening within one year prior to his current claim application.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and benign nerve sheath mass on right neck, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current disability levels.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him permanently housebound or in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and back disabilities due to a failure of an adequate VA medical opinion regarding the onset of these conditions in active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional failure of the duty to assist based on an inadequate examination, necessitating further review and evidence collection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her conditions, specifically related to periods of active duty and reserve service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service, including when he injured his left shoulder in service, and whether it is due or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability. The decision also denied service connection for OSA and lumbar spine disability.