Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic thoracolumbar strain and IVDS, 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss, or any higher ratings for radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than May 6, 2021 for service connection were denied as there was no pending formal or informal claim left unadjudicated by VA.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of October 16, 2019, for a 40 percent rating for his low back disability.

The appeal regarding the timeliness of a May 2023 VA Form 10182 is dismissed as the Veteran's Motion for Extension of Time was granted, making the form timely.

The Board has determined that there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the claims for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

PTSD, a back condition, and flat feet were not granted service connection prior to October 22, 2008.,The Veteran's claims for these conditions were submitted after the one-year period following separation from active duty.

The appeal for service connection for a broken left tibia is dismissed because the claim has been granted in full with respect to this issue. The low back condition issue is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and left ankle disabilities have been denied as there is no new and relevant evidence received since the January 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his mood disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and lower back disability, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since at least September 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU prior to October 14, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in duty-to-assist, including a need for TERA-specific examinations and an opinion regarding whether his gastrointestinal disability is aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back, left shoulder, bilateral knee and foot disorders (chronic joint pain), and bilateral foot skin disorder. The Board found that these conditions did not onset during active service or are otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability and an increased rating of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from April 6, 2021.

The Veteran's LLE femoral radiculopathy is granted at a 20 percent rating. The ratings for the back disability and LLE sciatic radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being readjudicated due to the submission of new and relevant evidence, including private treatment records and a medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding service connection for mechanical mid and low back pain with 30 degree right thoracic idiopathic scoliosis, as well as questions about whether the condition pre-existed service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back conditions, left knee conditions, and GERD due to his refusal of VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a duty to assist error. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.