Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right knee osteoarthritis with medial meniscal tear residuals and total knee replacement residuals, and left knee osteoarthritis with medial meniscal tear residuals. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to February 13, 2012 is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 100 percent for Meniere's Syndrome, but denied effective dates prior to January 1, 2008 for the grants of service connection for low back disability, right hip disability, and left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy.

The claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, low back condition, lower extremity radiculopathy, otitis, and hiatal hernia were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,New evidence received since the previous decisions related to sleep apnea, rhinitis, and sinusitis has been found material as it supports a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal was improperly docketed and remands the case for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing his claim for service connection for a low back condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative joint disease, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher than 10 percent rating based on forward flexion and combined range of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine and lower back disorders due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA opinion, requiring new opinions from medical professionals.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with arthritis is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent disability rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for her back disability is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 50 percent for migraines is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent disability rating. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding an alleged in-service assault. The Veteran's spouse is seeking service connection for psychiatric, back, and asthma disorders.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including depression and other conditions. The effective date of this decision is August 28, 2023.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that this rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 20 percent for chronic lumbar spine strain from May 1, 1986 to April 28, 1993 is granted. The claim for a separate initial disability rating of 10 percent for thoracic (dorsal) spine disability is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development and lack of substantial compliance with previous remands. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the timing of knee arthritis onset and whether any back disability is secondary to knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back, right knee, and left knee conditions, finding that these conditions began during his active service and have continued since.

The Board has granted service connection for back arthritis and bilateral knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his periods of active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the appeal is remanded due to inadequate negative nexus opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted on a direct basis. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for OSA, kidney stones, bruxism (teeth grinding), and a back disability as secondary to other conditions.

The Veteran's scars are not rated as compensable, but service connection for a back disability and chest mass is granted. Service connection for a hernia, right knee disability, and left knee disability is denied.,Service connection for the Veteran's back and chest disabilities is granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran's current hernia, right knee, and left knee disabilities are not related to his military service.