Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for her lumbar spine disability is denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is abandoned, leaving no question of law or fact to decide regarding the TDIU issue. The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to substantially comply with prior remand instructions. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back strain is now before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pneumonia, right shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, neck disorder, osteopenia of the bilateral hands, wrists, hips, ankles and feet, and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine has been denied. The Board found no current disability related to any of these conditions at the time of filing or during the pendency of his claim.,The Veteran's assertions regarding in-service injuries were not credible due to a significant lapse in time between service and post-service medical treatment, as well as inconsistencies with contemporaneous records.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC claims were denied as her service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, PTSD, sleep apnea, and lumbar strain, did not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the Veteran was able to work during the appeal period despite missing some days due to her migraines.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain his civilian treatment records from Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana and private treatment records from Fall Creek Family Medicine.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, as well as new evidence of worsening since previous evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain and L5-S1 herniated nucleus pulposus. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes in the right and left ankles, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The disability ratings have been increased to 20 percent effective October 31, 2013.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from November 1, 2016, to March 24, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current back disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, dry eyes, skin rash, sarcoidosis, IBS, and acid reflux. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are based on direct evidence of their onset during or shortly after his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current cervical spine, lumbar spine, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, or left upper extremity radiculopathy disability. Hypertension and an acquired psychological disorder are diagnosed but the Board cannot establish service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder is granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The case is remanded to obtain missing STRs, including the separation examination, and to provide an adequate VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and DEA was granted with an effective date of December 20, 2022. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred within one-year prior to the date of claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and back disability are granted as service connected, with the evidence showing a current disability in each condition that is related to active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and Lumbosacral strain is remanded due to the need to obtain private treatment records.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of right shoulder, back, and bilateral knee disabilities under the modernized review system. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar strain disability and has remanded her claims of service connection for bilateral hip disabilities as secondary to her lumbar strain.