Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's lay statements of in-service back pain and continuous symptomatology since service are credible. The Board affords the Veteran the benefit of doubt.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is dismissed. The remaining issues, including increased rating for right ankle disability and service connection for left and right knee disabilities, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, hypertension, aneurysm and residuals secondary to hypertension, and psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to issues with obtaining SSA records and addressing conflicting medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination addressing whether the Veteran's low back disability constitutes functional ankylosis, which would be equivalent to a 50% rating.

The Veteran's right posterior and anterior thigh gunshot wound residuals have been rated as noncompensable, with the Board finding that they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy has also been rated as noncompensable prior to November 21, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate development and lack of a strong medical rationale in previous opinions. The appellant is asked to submit any additional evidence, and a new opinion from an appropriate clinician is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder disability and denied service connection for left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements of in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to clarify the nature, severity, and location of his service-connected hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and rhabdomyolysis. The issues include seeking initial compensable ratings for HS prior to October 15, 2020, and in excess thereafter, as well as increased ratings for various forms of rhabdomyolysis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine and left lower extremity disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is required to provide an adequate medical opinion that addresses the relevant facts and medical science.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Specifically, the VA examiner found no nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's migraines are now rated at 50% effective September 23, 2016. The Board also granted TDIU from September 23, 2016 due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's MDD was granted an initial rating of 70 percent effective May 21, 2019. The IVDS with arthritis of the lumbar spine and thoracic scoliosis received a higher rating from April 25, 2023.,A TDIU claim prior to July 11, 2014 was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings due to inconsistencies in the VA examination findings and the need for additional development, including a retrospective opinion on the historical progression of his back disability. The TDIU claim is also deferred pending completion of these matters.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability, as well as by medication used to treat that condition. The evidence did not show a causal link between these factors and the Veteran's OSA.

The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities have been remanded due to new treatment records showing possible worsening of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities have been granted, with a rating of 100% effective as of the date of decision.