Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew her claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disability, left hip disability and left knee disability.

The appeal for service connection and evaluation of several conditions, including left wrist condition, respiratory issues, left knee condition, PTSD, and earlier effective dates, was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical disorder and a low back disorder, both diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease, and degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a special home adaptation and specially adapted housing due to the need for additional development, specifically an examination to determine the severity of his service-connected disabilities as they relate to loss of use of the extremities.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus, left patella traumatic arthritis, right patella traumatic arthritis, and degenerative joint disease of the right ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, granting a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a total disability rating from August 22, 2019, and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from September 30, 2019. The Veteran is also granted individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities from December 1, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, thus granting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral knee and foot disorders, as well as a lumbar spine disorder, to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and remanded the claim for a low back condition due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of a TDIU was denied.

The Board granted service connection for left knee condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder diagnosed as somatic symptom disorder, and increased the initial rating for lumbosacral spine arthritis to 40 percent from October 22, 2020.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for thoracolumbar spine strain and cervical spine degenerative disc disease, as they were not filed within one year of the initial denial decisions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity, a back disorder, and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for a right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with laxity. However, it granted a 60 percent rating for dermographism with manifestations of chronic cholinergic urticaria from November 29, 2018, and a 50 percent initial rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lower back condition and tinnitus to correct pre-decision duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, including chronic thoracolumbar strain, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, traumatic brain injury with vertigo, and others.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for DJD of the right hip with limitation of rotation and adduction, and higher ratings for DJD of the thoracolumbar spine.

The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative before a decision could be made.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disorder and remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right knee limitation of flexion, and migraines due to inadequate VA examinations that did not discount the beneficial effects of medication.