Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back injury disability and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his eye disability (dry eye syndrome) due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, effective dates for various disabilities, and SMC at the housebound rate. The representative requested earlier effective dates for multiple conditions and disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder), but denied service connection for a heart disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy due to issues with prior examinations and lack of recent medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of records and need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbar strain, finding that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings from October 3, 2014, and September 21, 2022.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and remanded several issues of service connection due to his active military service. The issues of service connection for OSA, bilateral knee conditions, headaches, right-hand condition, left-hand condition, and left hip condition are now pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to attend VA examinations. The Veteran provided good cause for missing the initial examinations, and he is being asked to undergo new VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left hip strain, right hip strain, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were chronic during service and have been continuous since separation.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on several musculoskeletal and neurological disabilities are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's right leg radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The effective date for the grant of a 20 percent rating for right leg radiculopathy cannot be earlier than September 18, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim, but did not grant service connection due to lack of nexus between the left knee disability and military service. For his left shoulder disability, the Veteran received a 30% rating, which is higher than what he previously had. His back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were all granted increased ratings. The GERD claim was also granted with specific dates.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various joint disabilities prior to September 27, 2002 due to a need for further development and medical opinions.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the October 2023 remand directives and thus, the case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation, specifically regarding the service-connected lumbosacral strain and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, given evidence of worsening symptoms and inconsistencies with previous examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on six different conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for TBI, lumbosacral strain and right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss disability, and PTSD evaluation. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and an updated examination.