Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's cardiac disorder (PAPVR) is granted service connection, and his back disability remains at a 10% evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted from April 30, 2014 to April 8, 2020. The other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 2, 2007. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether he was precluded by his service-connected disabilities from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment in occupations related to his education, training, and work experience.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability resulting from aggravation by his service-connected knee disabilities.,The Veteran's chest pain (claimed as costochondritis) remains on appeal, with an addendum opinion required to address all documented in-service incidents of chest pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for dental, jaw, and back disorders. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of headaches and cold weather exposure.

The Board has granted effective dates of November 30, 2018 for separate ratings for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in both lower extremities. The Veteran's initial claim was not timely filed and the new evidence supporting this claim is within one year of his implied claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand injury and lower back injury, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.,Both injuries are considered direct service connections based on their occurrence during active duty.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but denied a higher rating and remanded the case for further development. The claim is also remanded to determine if there was clear and unmistakable error in a previous denial of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for OSA, increased rating for lumbosacral strain, initial ratings for RLE sciatic radiculopathy (prior to October 12, 2018) and LLE sciatic radiculopathy (post October 12, 2018), TDIU based solely on an acquired psychiatric disorder, SMC at the housebound rate, and basic eligibility to DEA under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 have all been granted.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as there was no evidence showing that the condition worsened during an April 2010 Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) period, and ACDUTRA is not considered active service.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE) and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE), as well as his claims for gastritis secondary to medications taken for service-connected disabilities, are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back disorder is secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder. The claim will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion from a medical expert.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hearing loss, eye disorders, head trauma, and psychiatric conditions. The claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, service connection for left ear hearing loss, low back disability, hernia and groin disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are all being reviewed due to new evidence or changes in the Veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions provided did not substantially comply with the remand requests, necessitating further development to assess the severity of the service-connected lumbar spine disability from June 21, 2018, to August 12, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a right foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The Veteran asserts his conditions are related to incidents during service, including a fall from a tank while removing a canvas cover.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent since April 16, 2015. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine is still within the range required for a 40 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from October 19, 2020 is dismissed as moot because he has been awarded a combined 100 percent rating. The appeal of the extraschedular TDIU claim prior to October 19, 2020 is remanded for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a lumbar spine disability due to issues with obtaining medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's diabetes is being evaluated in relation to his psychiatric disability, while the lumbar spine disability will be evaluated in relation to his bilateral knee disabilities.