Back / lumbar spine — all decisions

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

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis for the appeal period beginning on June 25, 2009.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and remanded the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a back disability, and sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support an increase in disability or a link to service.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of the Veteran's lumbar spine and right ankle disabilities to correct an error by the AOJ in satisfying the regulatory duty to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition, finding that the Veteran's current disability had its clinical onset during his active duty service.

The Veteran was awarded service connection for allergic rhinitis based on the PACT Act, but an earlier effective date prior to August 10, 2022, is not warranted.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to a duty to assist error.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death, as an appellant's claim does not survive their death.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, recurrent right and left shoulder rotator cuff tear residuals, right and left total knee replacement residuals, and right and left foot plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and voiding dysfunction as residuals of a stroke, and granted initial ratings for the back disability, left shoulder disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims for earlier effective dates for hypertension and stroke were denied.

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, finding the evidence to be in approximate balance regarding its relation to an in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, finding no current diagnosis and that the Veteran's reported symptoms were not supported by medical evidence. The issues of service connection for a low back disability and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee replacement conditions. However, the Board granted a 10 percent rating for the left knee scar and a 30 percent rating for the lumbar spine degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings pertaining to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and associated radiculopathy of the LLE, except as noted for a 60 percent rating from December 2, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, a back disability, heart disability, and residuals of a stroke, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service or caused by his service-connected left ear disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and a TDIU, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these disabilities were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for Crohn's disease and denied service connection for a right knee condition, left knee condition, and low back condition.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral foot, and right thumb disabilities prior to certain dates but granted a 40% rating for his lumbar spine disability effective October 29, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and a neck disability, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities were incurred in active service.