Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine have been rated at 10 percent, effective January 1, 2017. The Board found that this rating is appropriate based on the current functional limitations and did not find evidence of more severe disability warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's neck disability is related to his military service. The VA examiner provided contradictory opinions, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current neck disabilities are related to his in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to in-service injuries and related conditions, including neck disorder, lower back disorder, headaches, right and left lower extremity neuropathy. The issues are intertwined with the development of the neck disorder claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical disorders are not service-connected as they did not begin during her military service or within a year of discharge, and there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to her active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and providing proper notice regarding the criteria necessary to substantiate a TDIU. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar radiculopathy and entitlement to a TDIU are currently pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability (degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine) and an acquired psychiatric disorder (paranoid schizophrenia), finding that these conditions permanently worsened beyond their natural progression during periods of active duty training.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his back condition, finding that it is related to his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.,Secondary service connection is also granted for the cervical spine disability and right hip disability to the low back disability, as well as for the left hip disability. The acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for cardiovascular disability, cataracts, prostate gland hypertrophy, and lumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or exposure to radiation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that his current condition did not originate in service or until years after service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, a back disorder, and fatigue disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence to support an in-service onset or relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disorder and diabetes type II (diabetes) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination to determine if her service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for a back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left knee disorder due to inconsistencies in the rating decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right hip disorder, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision found that there was no medical link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracic and lumbar spine conditions, diagnosed as DDD, are related to his active-duty service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has found errors in the previous decision and is remanding the claims for a low back disability due to inadequate opinion based on an inaccurate factual premise.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and tinnitus are being remanded for further evaluation.,Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain (previously rated as lumbosacral strain) prior to August 1, 2019. The evidence did not show the Veteran's condition met or approximated the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues on appeal.