Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, left ankle instability, lower back condition, and right knee pain as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his back disability was denied. The claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertensive heart disease with fatigue and shortness of breath, hypertension based on the PACT Act, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a right hip disorder were all denied.

Your service connection claims for a lumbar spine disability and a right knee disability have been granted, effective from June 29, 2021. The Board has dismissed your appeals as the claims were fully addressed in the December 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain (claimed as back pain), to include as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA medical opinion and the need for an updated examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain with spondylosis, arthritis, and disc degeneration and cervical spine spondylosis with moderate disc degeneration due to inadequate VA examination findings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, which has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for left knee disability, low back disability, and hemorrhoids have been denied. The VA has determined that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating in any of these cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as sleep-wake disorder and PTSD), a low back disorder, right knee disorders, left knee disorders, right foot disorders, and left foot disorders are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after new examinations have been conducted.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for higher ratings and service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service. The Board considered multiple VA and private medical opinions and found them persuasive in concluding that the Veteran's back condition is not linked to his military service.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the September 2021 AOJ decision and has ordered additional development. The claim is remanded for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was aggravated by her service-connected left knee strain.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for hypertension as a matter of law, denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded claims for service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, vertigo, sleep apnea, skin cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's right knee strain and DDD/IVDS have been granted service connection.,Left knee condition remains pending due to insufficient development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection of back, right hip, left hip, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The ratings have been increased to 20% from September 9, 2016 to October 2, 2022, and to 30% from October 3, 2022 for right knee disability and left knee disability.

The Veteran's low back condition and associated radiculopathies were evaluated, with the Board denying increased evaluations.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated based on their current manifestations.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hepatitis C prior to October 20, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter has been dismissed. The case is remanded for further development regarding the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the VA examination and lack of range-of-motion loss estimates. The Veteran's low back disability prior to July 30, 2020, needs further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a low back disability due to the need for further development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion regarding functional loss and assessing whether there is 'functional ankylosis' of the Veteran's back.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and an arthritis disorder of the hips and shoulders due to insufficient evidence in the previous VA medical opinion.

The Board has granted an initial increased rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's low back disability, effective October 1, 2006. The issue of an initial increased evaluation greater than 40 percent remains on appeal.