Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has found that the Veteran's thoracic artery calcification claim is denied due to a prohibition against service connection for disabilities resulting from tobacco use during service. The esophageal disability, kidney disability, and lumbar spine disability claims are remanded as there were duty-to-assist errors in obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for back disability, right ankle disability, eczema, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and shortness of breath as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an additional VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has determined that the VA did not make reasonable efforts to obtain all relevant private treatment records and additional medical examinations are needed to assess the severity of the appellant's disabilities. The claims for increased ratings will be remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error and to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, which was granted on November 16, 2021. The Board finds that additional efforts are necessary to determine if the Veteran's employment constituted a protected environment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues with service connection and rating of the lumbar spine disability. The effective date for service connection remains prior to December 23, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (lumbosacral strain, bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus) are preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error has been made and remands for VA to obtain Social Security Administration records relevant to his TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease with sacroiliac arthropathy, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus to service. The disability is considered to be due to post-service work injuries.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and service connection were dismissed due to untimely filings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various types of chronic pain syndrome were denied, and the effective date was not granted earlier than May 2, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hammer toes and lower back disability, finding no current diagnoses or evidence of in-service events that could support these claims.

The reduction in rating for residuals of service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis from 40 percent to 20 percent effective May 12, 2022 is improper and void ab initio. The petition to reverse the reduction is granted.,Effective dates are granted for service connection for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and left elbow supination.

The Veteran's gastric ulcer with erosive gastroduodenitis is granted an initial 20 percent rating.,Other service connection claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his headache disability. The back, vertigo, pulmonary nodule, and thyroid nodules claims were denied as there was no evidence of a service connection.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for bronchial asthma, left shoulder pain, degenerative arthritis of the spine (cervical spine degenerative joint disease with degenerative disc disease), and major depressive disorder due to a procedural defect in filing the Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 27, 2021 for the awards of a 20% rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine (back disability), service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, and service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's back disorder is granted service connection. The claims for left and right knee disorders, as well as the right ankle disorder, are remanded due to insufficient evidence.