Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection of low back disability and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claim for TDIU due to untimely filing of substantive appeals.

The Board has remanded the service connection claim for a back disability due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to follow January 2023 Board remand instructions.

The Board has ordered new examinations for the Veteran's cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right thigh, left knee, gum/dental, eye, and migraine conditions due to outstanding military records and potential competency issues.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to July 15, 2019 and denied for a rating in excess of 20 percent from that date onwards.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed as moot due to the full grants of benefits. The claim for a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted effective September 25, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities as well as left and right shoulder disabilities due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to consider if the Veteran's symptoms amount to functional ankylosis, which can establish entitlement to a higher disability rating for his service-connected thoracic spine.

The Board has determined that the issue of TDIU was reasonably raised by the record and is now considered on its merits. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine conditions have led to a combined disability rating of 70 percent, but no single condition meets the schedular criteria for TDIU. A referral to the Director of Compensation Service is warranted for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical spine disability is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the lumbar spine and radiculopathy disabilities are denied as no factual ascertainable increase in severity occurred within one year prior to her January 29, 2016 claim.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to unemployability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current back disorder, respiratory disorder, or headache. The claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that it did not have its onset in service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right patella fracture.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted service connection. Service connection for hyperdermatographism, right Achilles tendinitis, left Achilles tendinitis, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis are denied.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to comply with VA's duty to assist the Veteran in obtaining evidence needed to substantiate his claims for service connection. The case is being remanded for additional examinations and a review of the medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease L5/S1 to include spondylolisthesis L5/S1 was granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent, effective from September 9, 2019. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is credible and competent evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims due to the passage of time since his last VA examinations, outstanding medical records, and incomplete treatment records.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for increased disability ratings above, and remanded several issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder with right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that her injury occurred during active duty and was caused by an in-service event.

The Board has denied service connection for lower lumbar condition, upper respiratory condition, and hearing loss. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of frostbite of bilateral hands.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and right foot disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.