Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back and neck disabilities due to a lack of compliance with previous instructions. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine condition, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain with torn rotator cuff and lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD, tinnitus, lumbar strain, sleep apnea, cervical strain, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, adjustment disorder, and a left elbow scar were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals. The claims for increased ratings of bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome are denied as the Veteran failed to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from June 18, 2012.,Service connection for GERD was granted with a 10 percent rating effective October 15, 2013.,Service connection for IBS was granted with a 30 percent rating effective June 18, 2012. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and following a substantially gainful occupation.,The Veteran's right foot metatarsal phalangeal joint degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent effective January 12, 2021.,The Veteran's left foot metatarsal phalangeal joint degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent effective January 12, 2021.,TDIU was denied as the Veteran does not have a single service-connected disability rated as at least 60 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for malignant skin neoplasm is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for neck condition and spine condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left shoulder condition, and a lower back condition due to lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbar spondylosis and rhinitis have been granted, but the claims for cervical spine and sleep apnea disabilities are being remanded.,Service connection has been established for a rhinitis/sinusitis disability due to exposure to burn pits during active duty in Kosovo.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a lumbar spine disability due to errors in obtaining updated private treatment records and inadequate opinions regarding pertinent medical history. The AOJ must obtain these records and provide VA examinations to clarify the nature of the Veteran's current disability and address secondary service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for scars of both hands and forearms, a back condition, and allergies. The Board dismissed the appeal as these issues were withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left foot and right foot disabilities, finding no current disability diagnoses. The reduction in rating for lumbar spine disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied as the earliest possible effective date provided by law is August 11, 2021.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that new and relevant evidence supports this decision. The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for chronic low back pain with sciatica, which began during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for scoliosis and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for lumbar spine disabilities other than scoliosis.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 10 percent since November 27, 2021. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or IVDS formula.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and vascular tension headaches, have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for the period February 6, 2006, to September 11, 2016. The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these disabilities preclude the Veteran from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

Your service connection claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been granted based on your continuous claim since May 24, 2019. The appeal is dismissed as the benefits sought are now fully granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating. The Veteran was previously granted a TDIU prior to May 22, 2022, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bulging disc is denied, and the claims for increased ratings for left knee and lumbosacral strain disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right foot injury and lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to undergo additional VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to military service.