Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for headaches due to new evidence submitted after the June 2017 denial. The issues of service connection for a low back disability and bilateral pes planus have been dismissed as they were not properly addressed in the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids has been dismissed.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD, left knee disability, and lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective August 11, 2020. The rating for LLE radiculopathy remains at 20 percent. Ratings of 20 percent and 10 percent are granted for right knee degenerative arthritis and lateral instability, respectively, both effective August 11, 2020. No ratings in excess of the current ones are granted for left distal fibula fracture and residuals of stress fracture, right distal radius fracture residuals, or left foot painful scar and scar.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for migraine headaches, TBI with PTSD, and right leg scar have been dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain (back disability) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include variously claimed ankle, hip, shoulder, and low back disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have persisted since then.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, and lumbar degenerative disc disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

Your low back disability claim has been denied and is being dismissed as the December 2018 rating decision was not properly docketed under the modernized review system.

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.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of various rheumatoid arthritis conditions, finding that no formal claim was submitted within one year of her intent to file and that she did not submit a completed VA Form 21-526EZ as required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and physical conditions like arthritis and back pain, rendered him unable to work as a mechanic starting February 5, 2020. The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 5, 2020 for his total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's back disability should be remanded for further evaluation and consideration, as the current VA examination is inadequate. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the rating issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a right shoulder disorder, and a back disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities within close proximity to the filing of his claims.,There are no treatment records documenting any symptoms or diagnoses related to these conditions after service. The Veteran did not report any such symptoms prior to the December 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with mechanical low back pain is granted as service connected. The Veteran's neck disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and a trapezius strain, is denied as not being related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 24, 2020 for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. The rating assigned is 10 percent for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain, finding that his current disability is related to an in-service injury and that there is no direct evidence of pre-existing condition or exposure-based presumptions.

Service connection is granted for chronic bronchitis pursuant to the PACT Act. Service connection is denied for left knee disability, right knee disability, Morton's neuroma of the left foot, thoracolumbar disability, left shin splints, and right shin splints.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for service connection have not been decided.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been presented to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a lumbar strain. The claims are being remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's neck and back disabilities are granted service connection, while the initial rating for PTSD with MDD is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 70 percent rating.