Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied reopening the claim for a bilateral ankle disability due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine is remanded.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective from April 30, 2008. The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and radiculopathy have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since that date.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's back disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability, should be remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's back condition and hypertension are granted as service connected.

The Veteran's cervical spine laminectomy with DDD resulted in a rating of 30 percent effective April 12, 2018.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service connected, with the benefit of doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for post-operative lumbar spine disorder, bilateral foot disorder, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The decision is based on a lack of current evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding the left foot, right foot, and back disabilities before a decision was made.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar disc diseases are each rated at 20 percent, effective June 5, 2012. The radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also rated at 20 percent, effective June 5, 2012.,PTSD with depression is rated at 50 percent, effective throughout the duration of the appeal.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of lumbar spine disability due to new and material evidence. However, the issue remains remanded as a new VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of any lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his service and service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is attributable to service, with doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that her symptoms were not chronic in service and did not manifest within one year of separation. The Board also found that her current lumbar spine disorder is not related to or caused by service or her service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board previously denied service connection for low back and left hip disabilities. The Court has now remanded these claims due to inadequate examination reports, which did not consider the Veteran's lay evidence of continuous pain since service.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 24, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis from that date.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral eye disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis related to either eye and no evidence of an in-service event or injury. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosed disability of either eye.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is denied as there is no evidence of limitation of motion, muscle spasm, or abnormal gait/seated posture resulting from this condition.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 13, 2010 for the award of special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran required regular aid and attendance from that date.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left knee contusion, non-osteogenic fibroma of the left tibial metaphysis, and a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's TDIU claim due to incomplete development and potential new evidence. The mental health claim is also inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim, so it will be deferred until adjudicated.