Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a low back disability, finding insufficient evidence to link these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has granted clothing allowances for the use of right and left knee braces, as well as a back brace in 2014. The Veteran's use of these braces caused damage to his clothing due to their design. However, the claim for a wrist brace was denied because it was not related to a service-connected disability, and the TENS unit and topical medication claims were denied based on lack of evidence showing they caused damage to clothing.

The Board has granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, but denied service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability and an eye disability due to lack of contemporaneous records. The scar on head status post injury with laceration claim is denied as there is no evidence meeting the criteria for a compensable rating prior to May 10, 2019, or greater than 10 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VA non-service-connected disability pension benefits as his income and net worth were not provided in a timely manner, and he was found to be permanently and totally disabled due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a retrospective medical opinion addressing the Veteran's reported flare-ups and their impact on his lumbar strain disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for an additional examination and etiology opinion to determine if any low back disability is related to service, including as a result of intervening post-service work injuries.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disorder and its relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar spondylosis was granted at 40 percent prior to December 10, 2019. From that date onwards, a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from July 13, 2013 onwards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of new and relevant service department records, resulting in a denial.

The Veteran's symptoms are accounted for by diagnosed conditions, and there is no basis for service connection based on undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an extension of a temporary total rating based on surgery for a service-connected back disability, as this issue was already decided in a previous June 2018 decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for dorsolumbar spondylosis and service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome. The back disability was rated at 40% from August 29, 2017 to November 4, 2018. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include psychiatric disorders, dissociative amnesia, low back condition, left leg condition, and right leg condition.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims and rating appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease to the cervical spine is related to his military service and has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service, as well as the potential aggravation of these conditions by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and reopening of service connection claims related to his knee conditions, low back strain, tinnitus, and hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports and failure to consider flare-ups as required by Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017).