Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for right leg syndrome (shin splints), back strain (lumbosacral strain), bilateral pes planus, and bilateral plantar fasciitis, all of which are deemed to have onset during the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability was caused by his service-connected right hip disabilities. After considering all reasonable doubt, the claim for secondary service connection for a low back disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and back disabilities are inadequate, necessitating a remand to obtain updated medical opinions addressing the onset of these conditions during service or their relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a disability manifested by painful joints, finding no evidence of current disabilities related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, right shoulder degenerative changes, and hypertension due to duty-to-assist errors in prior decisions.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine at L3-L5 and S1 are now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021. Service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, CAD, PTSD, sleep apnea, and headaches are all granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back disability was aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current disability and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical records, requiring a new evaluation of the Veteran's low back condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of headaches due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are related to his service-connected conditions. The examiner is asked to clarify if the Veteran's headaches are caused by or worsened by his service-connected cervical spine condition and/or Best's Disease.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his lumbar spine disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the need for a VA examination addressing ankylosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lower back condition is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for back and neck disabilities sustained while participating in VA's Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program due to falls on ice, as it is unclear if these falls resulted in additional disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back condition is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on housebound status as he is not permanently confined to his dwelling and immediate premises due to service-connected disabilities.

Service connection for tinea versicolor is granted. Service connection for low back disability is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral feet, bilateral knee, neck, back and right shoulder disabilities to include as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the reduction from 30 percent to 10 percent for BPPV was improper and has restored the original 30 percent rating.

The August 1993 rating decision denying service connection for back disability and bilateral knee disability is revised to grant the claims, effective September 23, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability and left ankle disability. The claim for service connection for adjustment mood disorder is remanded due to a duty to assist error.