Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The appeal regarding the proposed reduction in rating for the Veteran's back disability from 20 to 10 percent is dismissed. The service connection claims for bilateral eye disorder, cystoscopy, and erectile dysfunction are also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, neck condition, back condition, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay statements of symptom onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for additional dependency benefits for her biological child, S.E., was granted effective from February 1, 2023. The Board denied the request for an earlier effective date due to lack of a prior intent to file or claim.

The Veteran's service-connected Social Anxiety Disorder resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. The claim for a higher rating was denied.,The Veteran met the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to his failure to report to VA examinations in Ohio. The Board finds that he had good cause and the AOJ made a pre-decisional error by not scheduling him for an examination in Japan or via telehealth.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from October 3, 2014, due to his service-connected PTSD, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities preventing him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to the need to obtain Social Security Disability records and other pertinent information.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examination and evaluation of the Veteran's left hip, as well as retrospective medical opinions regarding the range of motion during flare-ups and whether the treatment for tinea pedis amounts to systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and any relevant private treatment records. The Veteran must provide authorization for these records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is required to have his complete service medical and personnel records associated with his file, including those from his deployment in Cuba. A new VA mental disorders and spine examinations are needed to address the issues of PTSD, anxiety disorder, lumbar spine disability, knee disabilities, and ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service or any incident therein. The gap between the injury and the onset of symptoms is too long to establish a link.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, bilateral hip, left knee, and left ankle disabilities. The claims are remanded to consider a right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, thoracolumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability due to a lack of hearing before the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral restless leg syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck condition, but remanded the lumbar spine condition due to outstanding records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in physical loss or permanent use of hands or feet, severe vision impairment, burn injury, or ALS. Therefore, the criteria for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment benefits are not met.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbosacral muscle strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as well as his claim for TDIU, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spondylosis and strain, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis due to a lack of corroborating service treatment records in the Veteran's case.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and ratings related to various musculoskeletal conditions, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, right hip osteoarthritis with trochanteric pain syndrome, left hip strain residuals with trochanteric pain syndrome, right shin splints, left shin splints, right knee strain residuals, and left knee strain residuals. The appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis was also withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that it is related to his in-service back injury and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.