Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for lower back disorder, including degenerative arthritis, status post-laminectomy, and right ankle peroneal tendonitis. The appeals are granted to those extents. Service connection is not established for either condition.

All issues of service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to improper appeal or untimely submission.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining proper authorizations for private treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's wrist disability. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ruptured eardrum, back disability, right knee disability, gout and/or pseudogout/CPPD, left foot disability, osteophytosis of the thumb/metacarpal surgery, wrist disability, eye/vision disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and missing service records. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed for possible service connection.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety is rated at 50 percent, which the Board finds insufficient to warrant a higher rating. The lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with status post lumbar spondylolisthesis with surgical fusion of L5-S1 is also rated at 50 percent and similarly does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, right knee condition, and right ankle sprain to obtain new opinions. The claim for scar left eye/cheek is denied as no new relevant evidence was submitted.

The Board revised the October 2023 decision to grant an effective date of April 13, 1987, for the award of service connection for a back disability due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has granted service connection for scars of the right forehead, left lateral eye, and right upper lip. The acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of head injury, headaches, bilateral eye disability, and low back disorder are all denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and osteoporosis due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome from June 6, 2008 is being remanded due to the failure to substantially comply with previous Board directives.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical degenerative disc disease was granted prior to July 21, 2008, and the claim for service connection for a low back disability was remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, stab wound residuals, and left upper lumbar paraspinal wound with tender scar, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board found that his service-connected conditions prevented him from performing the physical tasks required for a security guard position.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further development, including verification of combat status and a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremities radiculopathy have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is required for SMC at the (l) rate.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for lumbosacral strain, right shoulder disorder, and right wrist disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted due to his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy, and he also qualifies for SMC based on the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities. The effective date will be determined by the agency of original jurisdiction.

The appellant withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The appeal to reduce the rating for thoracolumbar spine strain from 40 percent to 20 percent is dismissed as premature because no reduction had occurred at the time of the appeal.