Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding a retrospective medical opinion on the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these disabilities began during active service or were related to an in-service injury.,For the low back disability, the VA examiner found no chronicity of complaints or findings from service to present day.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and other disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU. Prior to May 18, 2022, he was also granted SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has decided the claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension. The hypertension claim is now pending again, requiring further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 29, 2019. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as he was employed full-time until that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and missing service records. The Veteran's claim for service connection is now before the Board again.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise and, therefore, service connection for a low back disorder is granted.

Your claim for service connection for low back disability has been granted, and the effective date is November 15, 2017. The appeal is dismissed as moot because your benefit was already awarded.

The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent. Other conditions have either been denied or are not at issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on functional loss or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have all been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee strain with arthritis. The claim for female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition, which is currently considered service-connected under direct theory of connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied service connection for left knee and low back disabilities due to the lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20% rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, effective February 1, 2022, as the reduction was improper due to lack of improvement in function.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial disability ratings and effective dates were dismissed due to his death. The claims related to PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right posterior iliac fracture with residuals, scar from a previous injury, lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU/DEA benefits have been dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent prior to November 8, 2021 and at 20 percent since then.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy meets the criteria for a rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his vision impairment and physical conditions such as neuropathy and back pain, necessitate regular aid and attendance. The Board granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate notice and duty to assist errors. The Veteran is required to provide information about any private treatment records, which will be sought by VA.