Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for a lower back disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain to ensure that due process is followed and there is a complete record upon which to decide the Veteran's claim.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and tinnitus due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of increased disability evaluations for PTSD and lumbosacral spine strain with IVDS to correct an error by the AOJ.

The Board granted service connection for pes planus and back disability, denied an initial compensable rating for FSAD, and remanded several other claims.

The Board granted the reinstatement of a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain, granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability on a secondary basis, and denied service connection for a left knee disability. The other claims were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye condition, to include diabetic retinopathy; diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to service-connected disabilities with obesity as an intermediate step; and headaches, to include as secondary to tinnitus. The claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbar degenerative disc disease were remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back condition and granted a 10 percent rating for residuals of pilonidal cyst removal, to include scar.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection claims related to allergic rhinitis, migraines, right knee condition, and back condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for dental abscesses and gingivitis, as well as a back disability, to obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and remanded the claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with sacroiliac injury and weakness due to a pre-decisional error in the duty to assist.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disability, and a right knee disability due to procedural errors in scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for an anxiety disorder due to insufficient evidence of a current disability and no nexus to service. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher rating than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome, finding the evidence supports only a 20 percent rating. The Board remanded claims for cervical strain service connection, higher ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU eligibility due to duty to assist errors and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board granted the application to readjudicate the claim of service connection for Diabetes Mellitus II (DM II) and assigned an effective date of June 24, 2022, but no earlier. The claims for earlier effective dates for other conditions were denied.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a compensable rating for surgical scars associated with spinal fusion of the lumbar spine, but granted an effective date of March 28, 2022, for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and ED, denied service connection for obesity and bilateral hearing loss, and granted ratings of 20 percent or less for various lower extremity radiculopathies and right hand strains.

The Board granted increased ratings of 30 percent for GERD and 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, effective from the date of the October 2023 rating decision.