Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied due to lack of evidence showing an earlier date of claim or intent to file a claim.,Ratings in excess of 10 percent are not warranted for the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy conditions prior to July 2, 2021.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because the Veteran was not rated as totally disabled due to service-connected disabilities for a period of at least 10 years immediately preceding his death, and he was not in receipt of a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability, specifically his in-service injuries and their relation to his current condition.

The Veteran's right and left hip pain are granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted.

The Veteran's claims for high blood pressure, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, back disability, and bilateral finger/thumb disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of evaluating lumbar DDD with IVDS and TDIU. The Veteran will need to undergo a new medical examination to provide range of motion measurements, address pain during use, and assess functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims of higher disability ratings for back and radicular disabilities are remanded due to the possibility of worsening since a previous examination in 2018. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the remanded claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding her musculoskeletal disabilities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's low back pain and lumbar herniated disc are granted service connection. The respiratory disability (claimed as chronic cough), allergic rhinitis, and headache disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for neuropathy of the left lower extremity (LLE), right lower extremity (RLE), left upper extremity (LUE), and right upper extremity (RUE). The Board also denied service connection for a neck condition and a back condition.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tension headaches, migraines, respiratory problems, rhinitis, sinusitis, and a right knee disorder are denied. The Board found that the current disabilities were not present in service or related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability and tension headaches due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as whether they are related to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of various disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, left foot disability, right hand carpal tunnel disability, and left hand carpal tunnel disability. The AOJ must attempt to obtain the Veteran's military exit medical examination report and entire military personnel record.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it is causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee, right hip, and low back disabilities have been granted initial maximum schedular ratings from specific dates. The issues of increased ratings for the lower extremities radiculopathy and TDIU remain pending.

The Veteran's asthma claim has been dismissed as a full grant of benefits was awarded in the September 2021 rating decision.,The Board has remanded the issues regarding low back strain, right PFS, left PFS, left hip strain with left hip impairment, left hip strain with limitation of flexion, right hip strain with right hip impairment, and right hip strain with limitation of flexion for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and a back disability, due to new evidence added to the record since the last readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral flatfoot, lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability must be remanded to obtain further medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted service connection. The low back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all denied increased ratings. TDIU prior to October 1, 2018 is granted but since then is denied. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was granted effective March 18, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to less than substantial compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated neurologic impairments are being reviewed, as is his migraine headaches.