Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance for the period of time on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The current rating of 40 percent is maintained as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the severity of his service-connected PTSD. The TDIU and Dependents' Education Assistance claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Traumatic Brain Injury, Cervical Spine Disability, and Back Disability have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.,For the Traumatic Brain Injury claim, there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or treatment related to this condition during the appeal period.

The Veteran's disability rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective August 19, 2019. The Board has now reinstated the original 40 percent rating and granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis are remanded for further development, including obtaining medical nexus opinions regarding the relationship to service and toxic exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was not aggravated by his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, concluding that there is no medical evidence linking the current diagnosis to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right hip, left knee, and right knee. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

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

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, low back disorder, neck condition, and service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent. These ratings have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease as secondary to bilateral pes planus with arthritis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and granting the benefit of doubt to the Veteran.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted with an effective date of March 1, 2017. The Board found that the evidence did not show a worsening in his service-connected disabilities during the one-year look-back period and thus could not establish entitlement to an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a mid/low back condition is being remanded due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial. The Board finds that the preexisting scoliosis and lumbar retrolisthesis may be considered congenital defects, but further clarification on whether they are diseases or defects is needed.

The Veteran's bladder cancer and lumbar spine disability are both granted service connection, with the bladder cancer linked to in-service asbestos exposure and chemical exposures, and the lumbar spine disability resulting from an injury sustained during military service.

The Board found that the severance of service connection for spinal stenosis, low back pain with degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was improper due to conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran's conditions were linked to his service-connected myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) but also potentially related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for readjudication of his claim for service connection for a left shoulder rotator cuff tear with strain due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The appeal regarding the lumbar spine disability is being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claim for service connection for a lower back disability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical and lumbosacral spine intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) are being remanded due to a procedural error.