Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity frostbite residuals, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), prostate cancer, cervical spine disability, shoulder, elbow, and wrist disabilities, and gastrointestinal disorders. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient analysis regarding functional loss caused by flare-ups and pain during the period on appeal. The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II are granted as presumptively related to service due to herbicide exposure. Service connection is also granted for left knee, right knee, and lower back conditions, all presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure. The esophageal condition (GERD) is remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand directives and thus, another remand is needed before the Board can adjudicate these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lower back condition, which is claimed to be related to service. The case will be returned for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorders, low back disorder, and bilateral foot disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions from a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection for anxiety disorder is granted, and he receives a higher rating of 70 percent. Effective May 16, 2018, the Veteran also received earlier effective dates for his service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability and has remanded issues related to service connection for low back, left hip, and left ankle disorders.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disorder and remanded all issues related to bilateral hip, right knee, and skin disorders. The Veteran's claims are pending further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective from October 14, 2015. He also received increased ratings for his sciatic and femoral radiculopathies of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy, right leg have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in a June 2020 Appeals Satisfaction Notice.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder and right shoulder disability, but has remanded his claim for left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20% prior to September 1, 2020 and 40% thereafter. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective dates for increased ratings of radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the issues. The Board also noted that new VA examinations are needed for some of the disabilities on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his TDIU claim effective June 10, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional examinations and to obtain updated treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's lower back degenerative disc disease is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was caused by an in-service combat injury and whether the condition has continued since service.

The Veteran's SMC based on housebound status is denied because he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling, and the TTR for his cervical spine condition has expired.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted as service-connected.