Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's chronic back condition is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and chronic asthma require additional examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service. The VA is therefore remanding the cases for further action.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's low back condition, and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and right wrist conditions.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, cervical strain, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine have been granted service connection. The claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a right foot disability and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and lumbosacral spine radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities (left and right) as secondary to the now service-connected low back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of surgeries for gynecological condition and a low back disability, as secondary to her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain necessary medical records and provide the Veteran with a VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's left knee disability alone is sufficient to render him unemployable, and his other disabilities (depressive disorder, radiculopathy, low back disability) are at least as disabling. The combined rating for these conditions meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's lumbar disorder, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, is granted service connection. The claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and left knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 40 percent. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has granted effective dates of November 6, 2020 for both the TDIU and DEA benefits. The Veteran had no service-connected disabilities prior to this date.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to the appellant's claims for service connection due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, benign prostate hypertrophy, and other specified trauma and stress related disorder with alcohol use disorder rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU effective August 30, 2022.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as directly related to service.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability are both granted as directly related to service.,Both conditions were found to be at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted, including back disability, tinea pedis and tinea unguium, right foot degenerative changes, left hip disability, left knee arthritis, and psychiatric disabilities. The Board also found that the bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is secondary to his back disability.

The Veteran's degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating to 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to a failure to provide adequate reasons or bases in the November 2024 decision as to whether the pre-decisional duty to assist had been satisfied.

The Board has granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a May 2024 rating decision, which included service connection for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity (LLE) femoral radiculopathy, LLE sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity (RLE) femoral radiculopathy, RLE sciatic radiculopathy, and right knee strain.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical strain and a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to January 31, 2022 due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining adequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, left hip pain, cervical spine disability, and right hip pain due to issues with VA treatment records and examination opinions.,New evidence regarding compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a lumbar spine disability was found.