Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine was granted service connection as it is considered a direct result of in-service injuries.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are granted with a 40% rating effective February 2, 2022. Service connection for alcohol abuse disorder and fatty liver disease is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability and bilateral foot disability (claimed as plantar fasciitis) due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD was denied, and the earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied.

Service connection for a back condition is granted. Service connection for right lower radiculopathy and left lower radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for additional months of service-connected compensation for various conditions have been denied. The effective dates and payment start dates are legally correct.

The Board has granted effective dates of November 20, 2020 for the grants of service connection for scoliosis with lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and pes planus.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that entitlement to service connection did not arise until a March 2018 independent medical examination.

Effective dates of May 22, 1996 are granted for service connection of left knee limitation of flexion and impairment.,Effective dates of April 14, 1998 are granted for service connection of left hip disability and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities due to exposure in the Persian Gulf. The AOJ is directed to obtain additional medical records, including those from private physicians and workers' compensation providers, and to ensure all duty-to-assist errors are corrected.

The Veteran's competency is restored, he is granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance, and his rating for migraines is increased to 60 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and low back disability secondary to service-connected PTSD. The claims of service connection for right heel bone, calcaneus, right foot plantar fasciitis, and trouble walking secondary to right foot plantar fasciitis are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

Your appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it before a decision was made.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine rating has been dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing post-service medical records, which are needed for a proper determination of service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and low back condition due to incomplete records from a private sleep study and failure to obtain service treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence, and VA needs to attempt to retrieve his service records.

The Veteran's paraspinal muscle injury of the thoracic spine, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine were all rated at 40 percent effective April 7, 2016. This was a reduction from noncompensable (0%) to 40%.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis.,Both lower extremity radiculopathy conditions are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar scoliosis on the basis that it was aggravated by service, and for cervical spine stenosis as a result of service-connected cervical spine stenosis. The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is also service connected due to his now service-connected cervical spine stenosis.