Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with an initial 70 percent rating, and service connection for sarcoidosis is also granted. The remaining issues of service connection for jaw disability, back disability, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and cervical degenerative disc disease (neck surgery) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The VA is required to provide a disability examination and medical opinion for his claim for service connection for sleep apnea, considering total potential exposure through all applicable military deployments and service, as well as the synergistic and combined effect of all TERA exposures.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the December 2021 decision on appeal. The Veteran's current disabilities are conceded, but there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his service-connected conditions or in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's left arm burn is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or aggravation.,Sarcoidosis and respiratory conditions are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to inadequate retrospective medical opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran is required to provide additional information regarding his lumbar spine IVDS with degenerative arthritis, left wrist CTS with left upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,A 30 percent rating, but no higher, for GERD is granted. The Veteran has symptoms of considerable impairment of health and the evidence shows that his GERD causes considerable impairment of health.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent as there is pain and some limitation of motion without more severe manifestations such as ankylosis or significant range of motion limitations.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent due to the presence of pain and some limitation of motion, but without evidence of more severe manifestations like ankylosis or significant range of motion limitations.,The Veteran's TBI residuals are not shown to warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Code 8045.,The Veteran's psoriasis is not shown to manifest as characteristic lesions involving at least 5 percent of the entire body or requiring intermittent systemic therapy, thus preventing him from receiving a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused by his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and bilateral knee osteoarthritis, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the claim. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted.

The Veteran's claims for left foot pes planus, right foot pes planus, intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine, and spinal stenosis with degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine were granted effective March 7, 2020. The Board found no earlier effective dates are warranted.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back, neck, shoulder, knee, and hip conditions, to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the October 2021 rating decision on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance is remanded, as well as a reasonably raised claim for temporary total disability rating due to lumbar spine surgery. The AOJ will conduct further evaluations and adjudications.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, a right big toe disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to have onset during her active duty.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder and a heart disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being added since the last decision, and the AOJ needs to review this new information before making a final determination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back disability, hypertension, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to inadequate etiology opinions. The Veteran is required to provide new VA or private treatment records and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to an incomplete record, specifically missing private treatment reports from Kaiser dated since 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to January 20, 2021 is remanded due to pending matters regarding her back disorder and psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's low back disability is now rated at 40 percent, effective from the entire appeal period.,Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE) and right lower extremity (RLE) are both rated at 10 percent prior to February 27, 2017.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for left ankle and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, which the Board accepted. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, along with associated bladder and radiculopathy disabilities, effective July 2, 2021. The Veteran's attorney is eligible to receive past-due benefits awarded in the June 2022 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's thoracolumbar spine disability and Scheuermann's disease, finding that these conditions were caused or aggravated by events during his active-duty military service.