Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a lumbar spine condition, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active duty service or VA care.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to their failure to attend VA examinations and current homelessness. The RO is instructed to attempt to locate the Veteran, schedule new VA examinations if located, and consider all relevant evidence in determining the nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, skin rash, and hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg disabilities, including leg cramps and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, are being reopened due to new evidence. The issue of lumbar DDD is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were present shortly after service entry and diagnosed shortly after discharge. The Board determined there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating may be warranted based on functional loss. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability in March 1999. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted, with the latter being based on credible lay statements of in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, and foot disabilities. The Veteran's STRs are unavailable, which may affect the adjudication of these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his claims, granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD with other specified depressive disorder, but denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

Bell's palsy with right eye ptosis and sleep apnea service connection claims have been granted.,Bilateral hearing loss and hyperlipidemia service connection claims have not met the criteria for reopening.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions. The case is now pending for further development and medical opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from August 11, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and panic/anxiety disorder), a low back disability, a left knee disability, a left shoulder/arm disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate medical opinion and consideration of all evidence, including his National Guard service.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent from June 25, 2011 to December 18, 2019 and at 40 percent after December 18, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 10 percent prior to March 27, 2019, for her back disability (lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for right ear hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim of service connection for sleep apnea was denied. The Board found that the May 2014 decision denying this claim is final, and new and material evidence has not been submitted.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, headaches, insomnia, and obesity were also denied as there was no established link to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, disc disease, and sciatica, is service-connected. The evidence supports a finding that this condition likely began during his military service.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a neck disability service connection is granted. The Board finds the evidence sufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of establishing the claim, but remands for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.