Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back condition. The claim for secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for a skin condition (presumed warts) is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is service-connected, as it was incurred during his period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease (DJD) due to inadequate examination and need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional examinations and development of his claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability, finding that these conditions began during his active service.

The Veteran's request for a TDIU rating since December 21, 2015 is dismissed as her service-connected disabilities have resulted in a 100% combined disability rating. The TDIU claim for the period before December 21, 2015 is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back disability due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and DDD with stenosis of the thoracolumbar spine. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran on all claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 12, 2018, for cervical spine degenerative disc disease with arthritis (neck disability) is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent from December 12, 2018 to September 27, 2022, for neck disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 30 percent beginning September 27, 2022, for neck disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an upper body neurological component disability was dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection in a July 2020 rating decision.,For his back disability, the Veteran is not entitled to increased ratings prior to January 23, 2020 and thereafter (40 percent).

The Veteran seeks a TDIU for the period from April 2, 1985 until December 29, 2000. The Board has remanded this case due to insufficient evidence and requests further medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for compression fracture of the thoracolumbar spine with degenerative disc disease and strain was granted effective August 7, 2012. The Board found that an earlier effective date prior to this decision is not warranted.

For the period prior to July 17, 2017, the Veteran's low back strain with lumbar degenerative disc disease was not manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine less than or equal to 60 degrees and there were no findings of ankylosis. The Veteran received a 10 percent disability rating for this period.,For the period from July 17, 2017, the Veteran's low back strain with lumbar degenerative disc disease was manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine less than or equal to 60 degrees and there were no findings of ankylosis. The Veteran received a 20 percent disability rating for this period.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examinations and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a low back disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to insufficient medical opinions in the December 2020 VA examination.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of OSA, including whether his service-connected disabilities cause or aggravate OSA and whether obesity is a substantial factor in causing OSA.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to new evidence showing current back disability related to in-service activities. Service connection was denied for right knee, left knee, and neck disabilities as no chronic symptoms were present during or shortly after service. The psychiatric disability is not considered secondary to the service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all rated at 40 percent effective June 3, 2008. TDIU is granted from June 3, 2008 to December 19, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to her active duty service.