Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The reduction in rating for the left knee disorder from 30% to 10% is void ab initio, and a restoration of the 30% rating is granted. Special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate effective August 30, 2021 is granted. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are remanded.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from July 24, 2012 to July 9, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The claim is moot as of July 10, 2017 when he received a 100% disability rating for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.,A VA examination was scheduled, but the Veteran did not report for it. The Board found that this affected the claim's outcome.

The Veteran's back condition, other than syringomyelia, is related to his service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for an upper back disorder due to a lack of examination and opinion regarding this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck conditions due to a lack of evidence regarding their etiology. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating and earlier effective date for his lumbar spine degenerative joint disease has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, and right ankle disorder based on the Veteran's credible statements of in-service injury and subsequent disability.

The Veteran's sinusitis, right shoulder strain, left bicipital tendonitis, and thoracolumbar strain have been granted initial ratings. Right leg radiculopathy service connection has been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left wrist disability, and low back disability are all found to be related to service. The infertility and psychiatric disabilities are remanded for further development.,Issues regarding the infertility and acquired psychiatric disabilities are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, left and right lower extremity neurological disabilities, tremors affecting hands, and erectile dysfunction due to in-service exposure during Hurricane Beulah cleanup efforts. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding service connection and potential toxic exposures.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine DDD, hypertension, heart disability (claimed as a heart attack and stent), gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), and skin cancer due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and gastritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine condition, right and left knee condition, right and left wrist condition, right and left hip condition, right and left ankle condition, and bilateral pulmonary condition. The Veteran's claims are remanded to schedule him for a VA examination regarding his bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lower back condition with stenosis, right knee disability, left knee disability, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to inadequate VA examinations.,The appellant contends his disabilities are related to his military occupation specialty (MOS) and his duties in-service. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error as the July 2019 VA examinations for these issues are inadequate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for low back strain and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset in and are related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted an increased rating to 40 percent, effective from December 13, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied as he did not have any service-connected disabilities at the time of the decision.,Service connection for PTSD and mild depressive and anxiety disorder were granted, with the Board finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to his military sexual trauma during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, and because he was exposed to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran is not entitled to presumptive service connection based on exposure to herbicides.