Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's headache disorder is granted a 50 percent rating effective January 29, 2018. The initial ratings for lumbar DDD and RLE radiculopathy are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, low back, left and right foot, and left and right knee conditions due to inadequate rationale in previous VA examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of military personnel records and incomplete medical evidence. The Veteran's lumbar spine conditions are being evaluated again, and he is required to provide confirmation of his overseas active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to January 27, 2020 and denied for higher ratings thereafter. His back condition is rated at 40 percent after January 27, 2020 and denied for higher ratings. The neck condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both denied for higher ratings. The right shoulder condition is rated at the highest available rating of 40 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's back condition is related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted as it is related to his extensive history of flying aircraft over his career.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed due to the appeal being in a parallel Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) appeal stream.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability began during active service and is granted as service connection.

The Veteran's back condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy were granted service connection effective June 28, 2020.,A 40 percent rating for the back condition was also granted effective June 28, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction due to inadequate VA examinations and a need to develop the toxic exposure risk activity claim under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability and psychiatric conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His hypertension is not currently service connected.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue regarding service connection for a low back condition before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unemployable prior to June 5, 2023. The combined rating of his service-connected conditions does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Bipolar Disorder and Intervertebral Disc Syndrome with Degenerative Arthritis of the Thoracolumbar Spine, have rendered him totally occupationally impaired. The Board denied his request for VR&E benefits to pursue a Doctorate degree in either Business Administration or Psychology.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending appeals and confirmed the withdrawal at the May 2024 Board hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for low back disability due to incomplete records and a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his active-duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left hip disability, and right hip disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.