Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right great toe onychomycosis and a back disability, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle and joint pain, PTSD, pulmonary lung nodule, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), lumbosacral strain and arthritis, sciatica, depressive disorder with anxious distress, and bruxism have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and unclear onset of his claimed disabilities. He is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if he currently has diagnosed disabilities that are related to his in-service duties.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for low back disability and sleep apnea, as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's low back disability is related to service, but his sleep apnea is not. Further development is needed under the PACT Act due to the Veteran's service in Southwest Asia Theatre of Operations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, which involved multiple issues including service connection and a rating for an adjustment disorder. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his service and grants this claim.

The Veteran's back condition has increased in severity, and it warrants a higher rating than the 10 percent the RO awarded him. The Board finds that the December 2017 VA examination is inadequate for rating purposes due to not complying with the requirements of Sharp v. Shulkin.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome. The appellant's preexisting scoliosis was found to have clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and not been aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and right shoulder disorder, finding that new and material evidence supports these claims. Service connection is granted for mild facet arthrosis of the lumbar spine and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, but a higher 40 percent rating is granted from November 8, 2019 to February 6, 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of anemia, degenerative disc disease, hypertension, and heart murmur have been withdrawn. The appeal as to these issues is dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for sleep apnea, sinus disability (variously diagnosed as sinusitis and rhinitis), nasoseptal deformity, and right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied, with the effective dates of the grants being October 18, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his thoracic and lumbar spine strain with IVDS is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's cervical strain is granted service connection. Service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as chronic low back strain, are denied. The Veteran's rectovaginal fistula rating is remanded due to lack of VA treatment records. Service connection for a bowel condition is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for neck disorder, back disorder, left upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle condition, bilateral carotid artery disease, COPD, and tinnitus.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event that supports the Veteran's claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that it is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 20% prior to August 27, 2021. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.