Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with arthritis is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent disability rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for her back disability is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 50 percent for migraines is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent disability rating. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding an alleged in-service assault. The Veteran's spouse is seeking service connection for psychiatric, back, and asthma disorders.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including depression and other conditions. The effective date of this decision is August 28, 2023.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that this rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 20 percent for chronic lumbar spine strain from May 1, 1986 to April 28, 1993 is granted. The claim for a separate initial disability rating of 10 percent for thoracic (dorsal) spine disability is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development and lack of substantial compliance with previous remands. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the timing of knee arthritis onset and whether any back disability is secondary to knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back, right knee, and left knee conditions, finding that these conditions began during his active service and have continued since.

The Board has granted service connection for back arthritis and bilateral knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his periods of active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the appeal is remanded due to inadequate negative nexus opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted on a direct basis. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for OSA, kidney stones, bruxism (teeth grinding), and a back disability as secondary to other conditions.

The Veteran's scars are not rated as compensable, but service connection for a back disability and chest mass is granted. Service connection for a hernia, right knee disability, and left knee disability is denied.,Service connection for the Veteran's back and chest disabilities is granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran's current hernia, right knee, and left knee disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from December 29, 2011. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from the same date.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions to estimate range of motion and additional impairment due to pain at specific examination dates.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous instructions and a need for additional medical examination.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but denied some, resulting in a mixed disposition. The Veteran's new evidence relates to the unestablished facts necessary for reopening these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment during the period from September 22, 2009, to prior to December 16, 2017. Therefore, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for traumatic brain injury residuals, sleep disorder, and seizures.