Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, fragment wounds to the left arm, right arm, and head, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety) and a lung condition. The denial is based on the appellant's dishonorable character of discharge from active military service.,The Board found that the appellant had two periods of AWOL in excess of 180 days during his period of active military service, which resulted in him having 1,764 days of time lost. The Board did not find compelling circumstances for the first period of AWOL.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examiner to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to service or service-connected bilateral medial tibial stress syndrome, and if it is aggravated by that condition. The examiner should consider the Veteran's lay statements about her symptoms during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have had their onset in service.,There is no evidence of a current gout disability or functional impairment due to gout.

The Veteran's service-connected lower back disorder and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's low back disability and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, with a rating of 40 percent effective from December 1, 2019. The Veteran also received SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment from September 23, 2008 to March 28, 2010. An effective date of September 23, 2008 for the grant of basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder because the Veteran's honorable period of service did not show any diagnosis, treatment, or complaints related to his back condition. The motor vehicle accident in 2004 occurred during his dishonorable period of service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right, left shoulder disorders, lumbar spine disorder, right and left hip disorders, right and left knee disorders, and right and left ankle disorders due to in-service repetitive loading of heavy loads from HEMTTs or rocket tubes. The appeals are now pending with VA for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, bilateral hip, and low back disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was granted for an initial rating of 50 percent for anxiety disorder prior to November 4, 2020.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's NOD regarding the May 2016 rating decision was not timely filed, and thus, the appeal is denied. The case is remanded for further development related to service connection for PTSD, increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with disc herniation at L5/S, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, Achilles tendinitis (right side), and Achilles tendinitis (left side) have been granted increased ratings. Service connection for hypertension has also been established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated examinations, authorization of medical records, and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected degenerative disc disease at L4-L5, associated radiculopathies of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, and femoral nerves in both lower extremities are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination findings. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and cervical spondylosis were rated, with the lumbosacral strain receiving a 20% rating. The cervical spondylosis was denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 20 percent since June 29, 2011. The rating has not been increased as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease prior to October 5, 2014, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of his disabilities, particularly related to military noise exposure. The Veteran is also being asked to provide VA audiological and orthopedic examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing low back disability was aggravated by his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional evidence. The issues include hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, foot disabilities (callouses and bunions), right hip disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete development, specifically regarding a VA lumbar examination that could not perform non-weight-bearing range of motion tests. The issues are inextricably intertwined and need to be addressed together.