Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to discrepancies in her active duty dates and outstanding medical records. The issues include back disability, depression, vertigo, migraines, bilateral wrist pain, right foot disability, and left eye disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death, and to consider new evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient discussion of the appellant's reported in-service incidents and injuries, particularly regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder and lower back disorder. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from June 22, 2015 to August 9, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities. For the earlier period, he did not meet the criteria.

The Veteran's initial claim for a low back disability was denied, and her subsequent increased rating claims were also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent or 40 percent from October 24, 2016 to September 28, 2017, and from September 29, 2017 respectively.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine DJD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of forward flexion to less than 30 degrees or ankylosis, and thus, no higher rating could be assigned.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a chronic lumbar spine disability and granted it, finding that his symptoms began during active service and persisted since then.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD disability was rated at 40 percent prior to March 23, 2021. The Board granted an increased evaluation to this rating based on the functional equivalent of favorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her lumbar spine disability and service connection for fibromyalgia are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining retrospective opinions regarding functional loss and a specific opinion on whether the Veteran's symptomatology is related to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Degenerative Disc Disease of the lumbar spine status post microdiskectomy and decompression is denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative disease was denied. The VA determined that the condition did not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent, effective from May 14, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities due to a lack of VA treatment records, and requests that he provide lay statements from individuals who have knowledge about his in-service injuries. A VA examination is also required to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and lumbar spine strain due to additional VA treatment records not being considered in the previous readjudication.

The Veteran's cervical arthritis and spondylosis (neck condition) were not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease. Service connection for this condition is denied.,The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease. Service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and IVDS, finding that the evidence did not support such a higher rating given the degree of limitation of motion.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities have been granted service connection with effective dates of June 27, 2013. Effective date for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has not been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to insufficient evidence of current disability severity and potential inextricably intertwined TDIU claim.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's left knee, right knee, and scars of the right cheek and forehead have been granted service connection as they are related to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's OSA, left knee disability, and right knee disability remain under review.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for a back disability and gout are denied because the evidence does not support an in-service injury or disease, nor can it be linked to any period of active duty or ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA service.,The Veteran's current gout is also denied as there is no evidence showing its onset during service.