Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is dismissed as the benefit has already been granted. The Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and his claims for bilateral knee disabilities and back disability are remanded due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence presented by the Veteran during his hearing. The claims will be reconsidered with a focus on the Veteran's statements regarding the onset of his conditions during active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine condition and dextroscoliosis, thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities of degenerative joint disease of the left knee, degenerative joint disease of the right knee with painful flexion, degenerative joint disease of the right knee with instability, and pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of May 29, 2020 for a 40 percent disability evaluation for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's condition worsened prior to his claim.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of February 22, 2017 for both the TDIU and DEA benefits based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 25, 2019 for various service connection and increased rating claims. The Veteran's original claim was filed through his local Veterans Service Officer (VSO) on January 25, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions, particularly those related to toxic exposures in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his back disability has been denied as the evidence does not show IVDS or ankylosis, and his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that the earliest allowable date is July 3, 2019.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right and left sciatic nerve disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms, which were considered to be moderately severe incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to determine if any of her conditions are associated with active duty or inactive duty training.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability and sleep disorder due to inadequate VA examination and opinion. The Veteran's claim is not about a condition related to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or any other specific exposure basis.

The Board has vacated the portion of its decision denying an earlier effective date for TDIU and remanded the issue to consider evidence from March 23, 2017 onwards.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective February 27, 2019. The effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35 is now May 1, 2018.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 1, 2018.

The Veteran's appeals to restore ratings for cervical spine strain and thoracolumbar spine strain from 10 percent to 20 percent were denied as the evidence did not show improvement in these conditions.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for rating increases and service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent right hip disorder, recurrent left hip disorder, and recurrent left shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain, finding that the Veteran's back pain began during active service and is related to his in-service injury.