Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and a cervical spine condition, finding that new evidence supports these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as she does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain remains pending and will be remanded to determine if the criteria for a higher rating are met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in an inability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to May 9, 2020. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due solely to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants because her service-connected conditions do not meet the eligibility criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination and nexus opinion regarding the lumbosacral strain condition. The Veteran's service connection claim is being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for back, neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service job duties and symptoms that have persisted post-service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 22, 2014, for the award of service connection for a back disability was denied. The Board found that the relevant service treatment records were previously before VA at the time of the November 30, 1983 decision.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disability is remanded due to inadequate examination in December 2014 and a need for more contemporaneous examinations.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic branch. The issues were addressed in a prior decision that is final.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the untimely filing of a VA Form 10182 contesting bilateral hearing loss service connection. The rating reduction for back disability was restored to 40 percent effective July 1, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and a right ankle condition due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral sprain and migraines have been granted. The acquired psychiatric disorder remains at a 70% rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his active service. The Board noted that while he reported back pain during service in June 1994, subsequent examinations did not show any related issues and treatment records only began after service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and IVDS is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for neurogenic bladder dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected low back pain is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from March 22, 2010. He also received separate ratings of 10 percent for his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy during the appeal period.,The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his back disability, finding that there was no evidence showing a link between his in-service activities and his current condition.

The Veteran's request for restoration of a 10 percent rating for GERD is granted. The extension of the temporary total disability rating and the higher ratings for DDD of the lumbar spine are remanded due to procedural and substantive issues.

The Veteran's claim for SMC A&A/HB is remanded due to the inadequacy of the medical evidence provided at the time of the initial decision. The Board requires an appropriate VA Aid and Attendance Examination to determine if her service-connected disabilities necessitate regular aid and attendance or result in housebound status.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals regarding the service connection claims for degenerative disk disease, lumbar spine with spondylosis and L5 spondylolisthesis and degenerative joint disease, right knee. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as there was no valid appeal submitted within one year of the February 10, 2021 decision.

The Veteran's appeal to readjudicate service connection for lung growths, hypertension, a back disability, and a left hip disability has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his agent.