Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine spondylosis, right hand osteoarthritis, and left hand osteoarthritis based on chronic disease presumptive service connection due to symptoms that had their onset during service and have been continuous since service separation.

The Board has remanded the claims for a back disorder, left calf disorder, and right knee disorder due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions. The VA will need to verify all periods of service, obtain STRs and SPRs, and provide new VA examinations to determine if the current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative arthritis resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees prior to November 9, 2015. A rating of 20 percent is granted for this period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, including Degenerative Disc Disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of specific findings regarding Fairchild Air Force Base records and an alternate theory of service connection involving presumptive exposure. The Veteran's back condition is being examined again with consideration for this new information.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent effective January 30, 2014. The RO also granted increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the low back disability.

The Board has decided that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back and right hip conditions, as these are related to his right knee disability. The decision also notes that there may be outstanding VA treatment records relevant to the issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back injury, neck injury, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss has been granted.,Service connection is established for low back injury, neck injury, and migraine headaches. Bilateral hearing loss remains under consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination to address his lumbar spine and headache disabilities due to an inadequate statement of reasons and bases in the previous decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his active-duty service or any other service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a neck disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after his military service. The evidence does not support a link between any current disorders and his military service.,There is no medical opinion linking either condition to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection due to potential worsening of his bilateral knee condition, PTSD, lumbosacral spine disability, and TDIU. The Veteran is also required to provide VA with any outstanding treatment records from the Prescott VA and Phoenix VA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and TDIU based on a single service-connected disability due to incomplete opinions regarding whether his low back disorder is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hip and knee disabilities. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain, right knee condition, left knee condition, and vertigo due to incomplete development. The Veteran's request for a hearing was withdrawn, and the Court ordered further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and mid-back disorders were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability is granted as his current diagnosis of arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, left knee disability, and esophageal disability (Barrett's esophagus).,Service connection was granted for cluster headaches.,TDIU claim was dismissed due to lack of response from the Veteran.