Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for traumatic brain injury and low back osteoarthritis due to a failure to provide a VA examination, as required by McLendon v. Nicholson.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, OSA, and headaches. The appeals for service connection for these conditions are all resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The issues of service connection for radicular pain of the left and right lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development and evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right hip degenerative arthritis, left ankle osteoarthritis, right ankle osteoarthritis, and lumbosacral spine arthritis. These conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain and radiculopathy, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined rating of 90% for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety was granted. The claims for service connection for lumbar and left foot disabilities were remanded due to the need for additional development.

Service connection for a psychiatric disorder is denied.,Service connection for lumbar spine arthritis is denied.,Service connection for right shoulder arthritis is denied.,The claim of service connection for left shoulder arthritis has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective July 11, 2018. A TDIU is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability due to lack of VA examination and medical opinion. The case is returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylolysis of L4 and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are rated at initial disability ratings, but he contends they are more disabling than reflected by these ratings. The Board has remanded for further examination to assess the severity of his disabilities.,The Veteran also asserts that he is unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities, and a TDIU is being considered.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis and stenosis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service due to continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim to prevent the reduction of his left knee disability rating from 60% to 50% is dismissed.,The Veteran's low back disability is denied as not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and a low back condition, finding that the evidence supports these conditions began in or were caused by the Veteran's active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease, right shin splint, and left shin splint as they were improperly docketed in the Direct Review docket. The issues will be adjudicated in a separate Hearing Lane decision.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service-connected.,His depression and anxiety are already covered by his existing service-connected adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood, so these claims are dismissed.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was granted in March 2023, and the matter is dismissed as it no longer meets the criteria for appeal. The claims for service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a TDIU and DEA benefits prior to September 28, 2006 due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran may be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating in excess of 70 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.