Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no probative medical evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury. The Veteran's lay statements of continuity of symptomatology are not credible and outweighed by the negative VA examination findings.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with previous remand directives and thus the cases are being returned for further development. The Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and low back disability are both being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and neck disability, but denied service connection for right knee disability and sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding an effective date earlier than October 21, 2019 for a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain (lumbar strain).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues, including higher ratings for service-connected disabilities and an earlier effective date. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after these other issues are resolved.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted with a 20% rating, and he is also granted separate ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities. The Board has remanded other issues including entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity external cutaneous nerve radiculopathy secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back condition. The issue of increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues due to new evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition, and bilateral hip disability due to a lack of VA examination. The Veteran's disabilities may be related to his military service.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issues of service connection for a prostate condition and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for prior to June 24, 2011 is granted. The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent throughout the pendency of this claim. His lumbar strain claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy associated with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (claimed as bilateral hip and thigh condition), and bilateral knee disability, all proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20% and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are each rated at 20%. The left knee instability is also granted a 20% rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his current back conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and scoliosis of the lumbar spine as secondary to a right knee condition. The rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee ACL and medial and lateral meniscus repair with DJD is still pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been dismissed as moot because the issue was resolved in favor of the Veteran with the grant of service connection.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including an increased rating for lumbar spondylosis and entitlement to earlier effective date. The Veteran also had a TDIU appeal that was dismissed.