Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the issues of propriety of reduction of disability ratings and entitlement to increased ratings, as well as a TDIU claim prior to July 20, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to the need for additional VA medical examinations and/or opinions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for hepatitis C, bilateral knee disability, and back disability were granted. The claim for hypertension was denied.

The Board has remanded the claim due to failure to substantially comply with prior remand instructions, specifically regarding the impact of service-connected disabilities on work capacity prior to March 13, 2009. The Veteran's TDIU claim is now remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his back disability was denied. From July 17, 2014 to April 2, 2021, a 40 percent rating for the back disability was granted. After that period, a 20 percent rating was assigned from April 3, 2021. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran was granted SMC at the housebound rate effective December 10, 2010 due to service-connected major depression.,SMC for loss of use of both feet was granted effective December 3, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's functional loss during flare-ups and after repeated use over time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's electric wheelchair, prescribed for his service-connected spinal condition, is found to cause wear and tear on his clothing. The Board grants an annual clothing allowance for the year 2021.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease, tinnitus, left hip tenosynovitis, right hip tenosynovitis, and cervical spondylosis.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis on a presumptive basis. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as his sole service-connected disability, Meniere's syndrome with left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, already grants him a 100% schedular rating. The back disorder issue is remanded for further development.

The appeal for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) has been reopened, but the rating for degenerative joint disease of lumbar spine with spondylosis remains remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The psychiatric disorder service connection issue remains pending.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted service connection, with the condition likely having onset in active duty or reserve duty.,Service connection for hepatitis B remains pending as remanded. The claim will be reconsidered based on a determination of whether it was incurred during service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left hip condition and denied his claim for TDIU, finding that the appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right sciatic radicular pain, right hip condition, right knee condition, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left hip condition, and left knee condition. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed mixed connective tissue disease, as all other claims are intertwined with this diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and left hip disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left gastrocnemius strain and achilles tendon inflammation. The claims will be returned to the Board after a new examination is conducted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches is granted, with a 10% rating. The service connection claim for a low back disorder is denied.