Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, high blood pressure, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (previously rated as thoracic scoliosis) was denied. The Veteran received a 10 percent rating for his high blood pressure effective October 24, 2014.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and remanded the claim for service connection for vertigo. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for depressive disorder and lumbar spine disability have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 70% for her depressive disorder, effective December 18, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities (including as secondary to service-connected hypertension), residuals of strokes (secondary to service-connected hypertension), bilateral glaucoma (secondary to service-connected hypertension), and low back disorder (secondary to service-connected left knee disability).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is granted, as the evidence shows his current condition is related to an in-service injury. The Board found that the March 2022 private medical opinion provided by Dr. DM was more probative than the February 2018 VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disorder, finding that his current diagnosis of osteoarthritis is related to his active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted, with a rating of 100% effective as of July 27, 2023.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file, and it is unclear if the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and secondary service connection due to his neck disability. The evidence did not support a direct or secondary relationship between the Veteran's back condition and his military service.

The Veteran's back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy were granted a 40% rating, effective December 16, 2021. The left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis is granted, related to an in-service back injury.

The appeal regarding service connection for OSA is granted. The appeals regarding the remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection were dismissed due to the withdrawal of these issues by his attorney during a hearing.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disability. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and right-hand disorder due to inadequate etiological opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection for right shoulder, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is due to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability in July 2002, finding the Veteran's statements about injuries during service and recurrent back problems since then were not credible. The decision is binding only with respect to this specific matter.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is denied as there is no causal relationship between the Veteran's current back condition and his military service.