Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal regarding the timeliness of his request to opt into the AMA system is dismissed as moot because he received an HLR as requested.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, with the earliest effective date being June 16, 2017.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the service connection for left knee, right knee, right ear hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine, and peptic ulcer disabilities before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and lower back scar, effective October 1, 2021.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted service connection, while his claim for hemorrhoids is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome with impairment of the thigh and lumbosacral strain have been denied. The current rating of 20% for right hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome with impairment of the thigh is upheld, as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or other factors. The claim for increased ratings for limitation of extension and flexion remains denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability and a TDIU, with attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in March 2021. The issues were part of the same claim process.

The Veteran requested to remove her disability ratings for back disorders, which were successfully renounced by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and a foot disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the etiology of his disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back disability and GERD due to insufficient consideration of recent evidence in both cases. The AOJ is required to consider all relevant evidence, including new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma was granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the claim for service connection for lower back condition is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a right shoulder disability, and a lumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left hand sprain. The claims are based on medical opinions linking these conditions to the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's claim for a back disability was previously denied in August 2012 and became final. The Veteran submitted new evidence in May 2020, which led to the grant of service connection for a back disability as secondary to his existing service-connected condition.,A right ankle fracture was granted service connection effective January 18, 2021, based on the date the claim was received.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of various disabilities, including hearing loss, psychiatric conditions, sleep apnea, GERD, ulcers, prostate issues, hyperlipidemia, neck, back, ankle, elbow, eye glaucoma, foot, hip, shoulder, wrist, and knee disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back, left shoulder, right knee, and right ankle disabilities have been remanded due to inadequate VA examinations conducted in August 2020. The Board requires new VA examinations with retrospective opinions to address the functional loss and additional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, arthritis of the lumbar spine, and various hip and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to perform daily activities without assistance. The Board has determined that he requires regular aid and attendance due to these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for an additional VA examination to address the severity of the Veteran's left elbow and low back disability, specifically focusing on the lost range of motion during flareups prior to August 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right shoulder condition and low back condition due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's private physician provided opinions supporting a nexus between his current conditions and service, but these opinions were not based on consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has determined that further evaluations are needed for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, knee, and wrist disabilities due to unclear functional loss in motion reports.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable criteria.,RLE radiculopathy has been rated at 20 percent prior to December 10, 2019 and at 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran seeks a higher rating.