Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right knee disability, back disability, and left knee disability have been granted service connection. The rating for the right knee disability has been increased to 60 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there is no causal connection between his in-service event and his current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The Veteran contends his current condition is related to an in-service injury, but the VA examiner did not consider this contention and relied on a lack of contemporaneous treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for all issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Veteran's service connection for migraine headaches and major depressive disorder was granted effective March 12, 2021. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is granted at a rating of 20 percent, effective October 12, 2023. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of thoracolumbar spine with lumbosacral strain remains rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's back condition is found to have begun during active service, while his hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the above-captioned claims at this time.

The Board remands the matter to clarify the Veteran's employment history and whether his service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed back disability, degenerative arthritis and DDD, finding that it had its onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain. The issues of service connection for neck disability and bilateral hip condition are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded the claims for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and a low back condition due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's disabilities of the cervical spine, left ankle, left great toe, bilateral knees, right shoulder, and lumbar spine are not attributable to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 9, 2022, for service connection of low back pain, right shoulder instability, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 40 percent for recurrent low back pain, 20 percent for right shoulder glenohumeral joint instability, 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been denied.,The evidence did not support findings of unfavorable ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant higher ratings.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to PTSD. The claims for low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral shoulder disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remanded the case for additional development. The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with obesity is alleged to have caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn allegedly caused his current low back condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues related to service connection for a lumbar spine disability and whether the Appellant's character of discharge is a bar to VA compensation benefits. The AOJ must address these matters before readjudicating the claim.