Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding whether his condition was incurred or aggravated during active duty for training (ACTDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACTDUTRA).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right shoulder tendonitis, as well as remanded his claim for service connection for degenerative spondylosis lumbar spine and mild degenerative disk disease.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal or request an extension of time within one year of the December 2015 rating decision.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple conditions due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's dates and types of service.

The Board granted service connection for a left foot disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The appeal for a low back condition manifested by pain is being remanded.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain to obtain a more adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include bilateral lower extremity sciatica, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic in-service injury or disease and that the current disability is not related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of cervical spine strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and right shoulder impingement syndrome with arthritis.

The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, which include fibromyalgia and other musculoskeletal issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, left ankle deltoid ligament sprain, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, bilateral otitis externa, eczema, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with osteoarthritis, tinnitus, left varicocele, and cystitis, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to Capsaicin cream used to treat his service-connected lumbosacral strain and/or bilateral pes planus pain in calendar year 2019, as the prescribed medication was determined not to cause permanent damage to clothing.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's chronic low back pain with sciatica is related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as his range of motion was still greater than what would be required for a more than 10 percent rating.

The Board remands the service connection claim for a back disability to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current back disabilities are related to his in-service fall and other incidents.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from May 28, 2021, to October 12, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder and intermittent explosive disorder, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right foot disability, and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and cervical spine disorder due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, including the need for VA examinations.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding its etiology, including whether it is related to service or a pre-existing condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of medical evidence linking the Veteran's claimed conditions to his military service.