Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there is no longer a case or controversy pending before the Board due to the June 2024 decision addressing all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection, and the claims for knee and shoulder conditions are remanded due to insufficient medical nexus opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, hemifacial spasm right side, and lower back condition and pain as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted effective October 25, 2016, as he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of your claims. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to decide these matters.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue, GERD, a lower-gastrointestinal disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder (low back), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and varicose veins of the right and left lower extremities have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, gynecological disorder with infections due to pregnancy, back disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to obtain a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, lower back pain (claimed as back condition), and tinnitus due to the Veteran's withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support an in-service onset or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claims were also denied for secondary service connection of his lower extremity radiculopathies due to his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, left toe gout, right toe gout, left knee gout, and right knee gout, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased rating for a back condition and service connection for sleep apnea, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board denied service connection for lower back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service. The Veteran's service records did not indicate any complaints or treatment related to these issues.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.,Service connection for a left foot disability is denied.,Service connection for a left hand disability is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety) is denied.,Service connection for a back disability is denied.,Service connection for right side sciatica is denied.,Service connection for left side sciatica is denied.,Service connection for a skin rash is denied.,Service connection for a right leg disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are dismissed as the rating decisions awarding his service-connected disabilities became final.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right foot, right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining relevant personnel records and providing supplemental opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy/neuropathy, neck disorder, back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back, hernia, and left knee disabilities were previously denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The Board has not readjudicated these claims as the Veteran did not submit such evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar L5-S1 herniated disc and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve, as they are related to a service-connected disability (status post medial meniscectomy of the left knee). The VA will obtain additional medical records and provide adequate examinations to determine if these conditions are secondary to the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dysthymic disorder, heatstroke-related migraines, and low back strain with degenerative disc disease and arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the combined effects of his service-connected conditions.