Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a left foot disability, right knee condition, left knee condition, and low back pain.,All conditions are related to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain and service connection for a bladder disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee patellofemoral syndrome, ankylosis and instability of the right knee, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), did not meet the minimum threshold requirements for schedular TDIU. However, she is entitled to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from January 3, 2013 to January 2, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing the nature and etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of TDIU on an extraschedular basis, SMC at the housebound rate, and TDIU prior to May 14, 2013 due to a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there were chronic back symptoms during service and continuous back symptoms since service. The decision is based on direct service connection due to a current diagnosis and in-service history.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations and hearing requests. The issues of service connection for right knee disability, low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are being returned to the RO for additional procedures.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was restored to a 20% rating effective June 12, 2017.,The Veteran's PTSD was restored to a 50% rating effective February 1, 2019.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of neck and back disabilities due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent lumbar spine injury residuals including degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that the condition originated during active service.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for a low back condition must be remanded due to additional evidence not yet considered by the AOJ.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the July 2021 remand directives and thus requires another remand to obtain a medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's back disability had an onset in service, is related to service, or is caused by his service-connected right and left leg stress fracture residuals with knee arthralgia and service-connected left femoral neck stress fracture residuals.

The Board has ordered the case back to the RO for further development due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection claims for various disabilities, including shoulder, hip, and neck conditions. The Veteran's contentions of in-service injury and continuity of symptoms are not adequately addressed by the VA examiners.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with the remand directives and thus, the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and hypertension are being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis has been denied.,The effective date for service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis is set at October 22, 2008. The Veteran's appeal regarding this issue was remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for depression and TDIU due to inadequate addendum opinions addressing whether the Veteran's depression is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including his right foot disability. The issues are being remanded again to obtain appropriate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a restoration of his lumbosacral strain rating and an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain disability, as well as the claim for TDIU due to inextricability.

Your claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded to the AOJ for further review of your medical records. You will be notified if any changes are made to your benefits.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and IVDS are rated at 20 percent, effective September 1, 2009. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is also rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of claims. The Board has found the need for remand on several issues including bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, left wrist disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and right hand disorder.