Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits of his left knee, right knee, and lumbar spondylosis disabilities has been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board will seek additional private treatment records and schedule a VA examination to address the etiology of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims of service connection for eczema, GERD, tension headaches, lumbar spine strain, ED, and OSA.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing a retrospective opinion on the severity of his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's back and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine if they were aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions, as there is insufficient evidence of record to make a determination on the merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied.,Effective dates prior to April 16, 2009, are not warranted for the awards of service connection or increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for TDIU and a higher rating for lower back degenerative arthritis have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are now moot.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to her in-service motor vehicle accident and there was no chronicity of symptoms during or following service. The VA examiner's opinion supported this conclusion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since May 17, 2022. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of hypertension, detached retina disorder, and back disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and a higher rating is denied.,Service connection has been granted for left knee, neck, and low back disabilities based on in-service injury.,Service connection has been granted for eye condition (cataracts), right foot disability, skin rash, and obstructive sleep apnea based on in-service injury and competent lay statements.,The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process regarding service connection for low back condition and unspecified anxiety disorder, necessitating further examination or opinion to determine their etiology.

The appeal is remanded due to the need for further evaluation and evidence regarding service connection for low back disability, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and hypertension.

Service connection is granted for back arthritis and neck arthritis as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease (back arthritis).,Service connection is also granted for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, with right upper extremity radiculopathy being secondary to service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc and joint disease (neck arthritis), and left lower extremity radiculopathy being secondary to service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease (back arthritis).

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been denied.,An effective date of February 14, 2020 is granted for the awards of service connection and increased rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service records are incomplete and remands for further efforts to obtain these records. The issues of service connection remain on appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his back disability and right shoulder disability are each rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a left shoulder and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted. Claims for lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are remanded due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as she was able to complete some educational courses in social work.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.