Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability. The issues have not been fully adjudicated yet.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence to determine if the Veteran's back condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any low back disability, including whether it was caused by or related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not make him unable to perform daily functions or require regular assistance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a low back disability, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has decided the case is not ready for final decision and has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back condition.

The Board has determined that the records are relevant to the low back service connection claim and a remand is necessary as they could help substantiate the claim. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded this case due to insufficient evidence regarding the necessity of the requested home modifications and accommodations. The Veteran's claim will be returned for further development.

The Board dismissed all 34 issues on appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims, except for the service connection for irritable bowel syndrome which was not appealed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and low back disability due to improper filing of a Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Board denied service connection for both a lumbar spine disorder and a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

An initial rating of 40 percent for service-connected lumbar spine strain from May 18, 2022 to November 10, 2022 is granted.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent from November 11, 2022 and an initial compensable rating prior to that date for service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) associated with the lumbar spine disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right foot crushing injury and sprain of tarsometatarsal ligament of the right foot. The issues of service connection for bilateral knee disability and back disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions with associated radiculopathies, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, tinnitus, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, right Achilles tendonitis, left and right lower extremity varicose veins, right thumb arthritis, right ear hearing loss, hemangioma of the left scalp, left thigh meralgia paresthetica, right foot metatarsophalangeal arthritis, and right foot scar, are found to be sufficiently severe to render him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from June 30, 2011 to June 28, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to a back injury during active duty.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of hiatal hernia surgery, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the VA examination reports.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Disease and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no indications of severe disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of PTSD has been denied. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of evidence regarding the etiology of her low back, right hip, and left hip conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as the issue of nonservice-connected pension benefits prior to October 1, 2017, on the basis of countable income.