Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence. The claim is now granted as the Veteran sustained a low back injury during INACDUTRA in July 1991, which occurred while on active duty. Service connection is established because the current disability (chronic low back pain with DDD) can be linked to this in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's skin condition is presumed to be related to her Gulf War service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of records. The issues include his acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine condition, and low back condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and for a temporary total disability evaluation due to surgery for her back disability. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

Your claim for service connection for lumbosacral spine strain has been granted and effective as of November 12, 2003. The issue is now dismissed.

The Veteran's eczema is being remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding its relationship to his Gulf War service and toxic exposure.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding its secondary relationship to PTSD, allergic rhinitis, and psychotropic medication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his lower back condition, finding no adequate opinion linking the current disability to the Veteran's in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as secondary to the service-connected right hip disability. The case of a compensable rating for the right hip disability, and service connection for LLE radiculopathy and left foot plantar fasciitis are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left and right lower leg radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), and headaches. Service connection was denied for prostate disorder.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for left wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board has withdrawn these issues from consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The Veteran maintains that his condition is more severely disabling than reflected in the currently assigned 10 percent initial evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a right leg disability, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right shoulder, and anxiety conditions are granted as new and material evidence has been submitted. The cases of lower extremity radiculopathy and tailbone injury are also remanded.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for further development and evidence collection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left knee and left shoulder was denied as he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in conjunction with his supplemental claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder clearly and unmistakably preexisted his military service, and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, PTSD, low back disability, right and left ankle conditions, pes planus, tinnitus, IBS, and tendonitis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since his separation from active duty in May 2016. The Board has granted TDIU effective May 15, 2016.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated as 10 percent prior to February 25, 2020 and 20 percent from that date. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.,The Veteran's back disability warrants a 20 percent rating since February 25, 2020 due to guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour. However, the claim is still pending as he has not met the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to the grant of a claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease and strain of the lumbar spine, which rendered the original claim moot. The new claim of left shin splints has been reopened.