Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and low back condition due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related secondary conditions due to issues arising from the PACT Act development. The other service connection claims are also being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions and to determine if there is a relationship between his chronic kidney disease and his service-connected neurocardiogenic syncope or hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since November 21, 2017. He also has additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60% or more and he meets the criteria for special monthly compensation under the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for a low back disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for herniated lumbar disc, radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, and radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity were granted with effective dates of November 9, 2006.,An effective date of November 9, 2006, was granted for the grant of service connection for herniated lumbar disc. Effective dates of November 9, 2006, were also granted for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity and left lower extremity.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left elbow disabilities, diabetes mellitus, voiding dysfunction, an upper arm abscess, low back disability, right-sided sciatica, and left-sided sciatica. The only condition granted was dementia.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease and/or lentigo malignant melanoma.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and urinary frequency disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis and thoracic scoliosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various lower extremity conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his postoperative hernia repair scar and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The case is being remanded to consider additional evidence added since the January 2023 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that his current condition did not begin during active service and is otherwise unrelated to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and remanded the claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot disability other than pes planus (hallux valgus and degenerative joint disease), and individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease have prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since October 7, 2009. The Board has granted an effective date of October 7, 2009 for his total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune, as these conditions are not eligible for presumptive service connection based on service at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran is entitled to a new TERA examination to determine if there is an association between his claimed conditions and his toxic exposure risk activity.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete evidence, including a lack of VA treatment records since January 2020. The Board also requested updated non-VA employment physical examination records from Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). A supplemental opinion is needed based on consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and post-service treatment.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a lumbar spine disability has been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back degenerative disc disease with spondylosis is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has vacated the August 2022 decision and remanded three issues: service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, service connection for lumbosacral spine condition, and entitlement to TDIU.