Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for headaches, eczema, and low back disability due to duty-to-assist errors. The VA will need to obtain additional service treatment records and provide medical opinions addressing the onset and relationship of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal concerning the issues of hypertension, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral pes planus has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back condition, restoration of a 30 percent rating for other trauma and stressor-related disorder (psychiatric disability), and an increased rating for post-traumatic arthritis of the right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain (back disability) and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The back disability was found to be aggravated during active duty training, while the hearing loss claims were not supported by evidence showing it had onset or progression in service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's TBI is related to his military service and grants service connection for it. However, the Board has also determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish a diagnosis of PTSD since filing his claim or within close proximity thereto, thus denying service connection for PTSD. The remaining issues regarding thoracolumbar spine condition and cervical spine condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher initial ratings for his service-connected back condition, headaches, PTSD, bilateral knee conditions, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected L4-5 laminectomy/discectomy with degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1 has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 20, 2017. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain a substantially gainful occupation since March 10, 2020.

The Board has denied readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, an eye injury, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, and gonorrhea as no new and relevant evidence was received within one year of the respective decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, increased rating for lumbosacral strain, and earlier effective date for sleep disorder are being remanded.,The Board is unable to make a decision on these issues due to the need for additional evidence or information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back, knee, foot, and hip conditions, are found to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and lumbar spine disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on current symptomatology.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as the appeal is no longer valid due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache syndrome, right knee condition, rhinitis, right shoulder condition, and lumbar spine condition. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to service.

The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent. The Board has restored a 40 percent disability rating, finding that there is no evidence showing improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status, as his conditions are manageable with the help of family members.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, tinea pedis/dermatitis of the bilateral feet, and a bilateral eye condition. The issue of service connection for bilateral cortical cataracts and scotoma is remanded.