Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee strain and tendonitis/tendinosis, as well as a functionally impairing low back disability. The decisions are based on direct service connection due to in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is causally related to his service, including his combat service in Iraq and his duties as an ammunition technician. As such, the claim for service connection for a back disability is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain has been denied. The evidence does not support an increase to this level.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU has also been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, along with his nonservice-connected disabilities, do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,Right and left lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities were granted increased disability ratings of 40 percent each from January 28, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative arthritis, left knee was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative arthritis, right knee was denied.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for psychiatric disability is denied, and the claim of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded due to pre-decisional errors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left leg, and right leg conditions due to a lack of medical evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claimed neck, back, and neurological disorders are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and right side of face injury were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to April 20, 2013, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was denied due to her having been employed in substantially gainful occupations prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not directly related to his in-service injury in 1981.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, a lumbar disability, and a migraine disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bone and endocrine disorders, right and left dry eye syndrome, cervical spine DDD, foot osteoarthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, and right shoulder radiculopathy, have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disease or injury during service that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal as to the issue of timeliness of a Notice of Disagreement because the Veteran's April 2, 2024 submission clarified his intent for the January 22, 2021 submission.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disability is proximately due to his service-connected cervical spine disability, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine are granted service connection as they are related to his in-service carrying of heavy loads on his back. The right shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis case is remanded for further review.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities, including anxiety and depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's death was attributed to myocardial infarction and cardiac insufficiency. The VA examiner opined that the service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, but there is a need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and depression, have rendered him unemployable due to his inability to work due to his psychiatric symptoms and physical impairments. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus, cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and migraines are all remanded for further examination and opinion due to the need for a VA examination and medical nexus opinion regarding toxic exposure risk activities.