Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened, but the appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claims for secondary service connection of hip and leg disabilities are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, alcoholism, and a low back disorder due to potential conflicts with the Court’s decision. The VA must obtain SSA records, provide a new VA examination for his back condition, and provide a VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as his need for assistance stems primarily from his non-service-connected cyclical vomiting syndrome.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at a 40 percent rating beginning October 4, 2013. The Board has ordered remand for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's condition prior to October 4, 2013.

The Board has found that another remand is necessary to obtain outstanding private treatment records and the Veteran employment information relevant to the time period prior to September 27, 2011. The TDIU claim was raised as part of a pending increased rating claim and remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity is denied as a matter of law. The Board also remanded several other claims related to the Veteran's right knee, gastrointestinal condition, psychiatric disorder, low back condition, radiculopathy, chronic sinusitis, and headaches.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to March 22, 2018, and in excess of 20 percent from March 22, 2018 to October 30, 2019, and at 10 percent thereafter. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his employment is not precluded by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for back disability, finding that his current back disability did not have its onset in service or within one year of separation from service and was not otherwise related to an injury or disease in service.

The Veteran's back disability, including lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, had its onset in service. The claim is granted as the evidence supports a nexus between active service and the currently diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased compensation and service connection have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition. The appeal regarding discoid lupus is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to June 21, 2011 and from June 21, 2011 onwards.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to work prior to April 13, 2016. The Board denied entitlement to individual unemployability based on extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the NODs received on August 23, 2017 were timely for all issues except PTSD. The claims are being remanded to allow the AOJ to issue a statement of the case (SOC) for those issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records related to his SSI benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tendonitis of the right hand, left hand, and a lumbosacral strain (claimed as low back disability) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.