Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his left knee disability has been withdrawn. Service connection is granted for asthma, but the Board finds that there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and right knee disabilities.

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

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lower back disorder, diagnosed as lumbar spine degenerative joint disease. The decision finds that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury and establishes continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his reported injury in military service. The claims for right foot hammer toes, left foot hammer toes, and cystectomy scars are denied.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 26, 2009 for the grant of Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder and back disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since at least February 26, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,A 40 percent evaluation is granted for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and sacroiliac degenerative joint disease, effective October 23, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain (back disability) due to combat involvement in Iraq, finding that his current condition is more likely than not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for service connection.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is denied due to lack of in-service disease or injury and insufficient continuity of symptomatology post-service. The VA examiner could not provide an opinion without resorting to speculation.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is remanded as the November 2015 VA medical opinion is inadequate, failing to address diagnostic testing performed at VistA Imaging.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a recurrent lumbar spine disability and major depressive disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot, lumbar spine, and right knee disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence or examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of left shoulder, left knee, and back disabilities before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating were dismissed as the requests for extensions of time to file appeal forms were denied, and no good cause was shown.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's back injury is presumed to have occurred prior to service, but it is unclear if the preexisting condition worsened during service.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to October 18, 2019, finding that the evidence supports this rating based on the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for left shoulder disability was withdrawn by the Veteran during his virtual Board hearing.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, headaches, GERD, chronic pain syndrome, lumbar radiculopathy (legs and feet), lumbar radiculopathy (arms and hands), and unspecified depressive disorder. Service connection is denied for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service and no causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of lumbosacral strain was dismissed because the appellant requested withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted in the May 2023 rating decision, based on his service-connected psychiatric and back disabilities. This grant is considered past-due benefits eligible for attorney fees.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, and therefore, he does not qualify for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance or adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU.