Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been readjudicated and are pending. The Board has determined that new evidence supports the need to reassess these claims, but it is not clear whether all issues will be granted or denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues related to PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for myofascial pain syndrome and a low back disability, finding that new evidence received since the previous denial supports this determination.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings of left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, as well as a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis prior to December 12, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, chronic left hip pain, and chronic right hip pain. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to have been present during her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastroenteritis claim must be remanded due to a lack of evidence showing current disability. The remaining issues on appeal are also remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent, effective from December 23, 2021. The Board also granted entitlement to a TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal seeking service connection for a back condition and an initial rating of 10 percent for right knee instability was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease with lumbar disc herniation was denied, and her claim for an initial rating of 30 percent for GERD from August 6, 2015, was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to obtain necessary evidence. The Veteran's service connection claim for low back disability is pending.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a groin condition, left hip condition, left foot condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and back condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee osteoarthritis and low back pain with spinal stenosis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date for the TDIU is April 5, 2021.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease as secondary to his service-connected left foot pes planus with left foot scattered osteoarthritis, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's back disability is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a rating of 40 percent, and her bilateral pes planus and right foot conditions are also granted service connection. The Veteran's radiculopathy and bunionectomy with osteotomy, left foot disabilities have been denied initial increased ratings.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claims at this time.

The Veteran's GERD is service connected as it is proximately due to his service-connected knee disabilities. Service connection for the lumbar spine, thoracic spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are granted as they are proximately due to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and back disabilities due to new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that no new claims were pending and that the most recent final rating decision was in August 2017. The Board concluded there is not a basis to assign an earlier effective date.