Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is at least as likely as not related to her service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and rating of various disabilities, including back disability, psychiatric conditions, Graves' Disease with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, and bilateral exophthalmos. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to service or if they have been aggravated by a pre-existing condition.

The appeal of the service connection claim for a low back disability is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection in a prior decision. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's GAD was granted service connection on a direct basis. The claims for back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and stroke are remanded due to duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, hip, knee, and back disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

Service connection for a middle back condition is denied. The Veteran's middle back condition is not service-connected as it is secondary to her lumbar strain.,The Veteran's CFS and sleep disturbance are remanded for further evaluation, including whether they are related to service or due to other service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's right knee condition is remanded for a VA medical opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a back condition and remanded the right wrist condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left ankle sprain, right ankle condition, and low back condition are denied as service connection is not established. The Veteran's neck condition is also denied.,The Veteran's left foot tingling (lower extremity radiculopathy) is remanded due to its inextricable link with the claimed low back condition.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 21, 2014, for service connection were denied.,Effective date of August 21, 2014 was granted for the award of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and traumatic brain injury, finding that these conditions are more likely caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection. The Veteran's vertigo is remanded for further review due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder and somatic symptom disorder) is also remanded.

The Veteran's GERD is granted service connection, while his lumbar spine disability is denied due to lack of a medical nexus.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 40 percent to 20 percent for lumbar strain with thoracic arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome effective September 6, 2021 is proper based on evidence showing improvement in his back condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for a right knee condition, right hip condition, and low back condition as they are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, a lumbar spine disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral pes planus due to the lack of current disabilities or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA-authorized physical therapy records for his lumbar spine disability and an adequate VA headache conditions examination.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are found to be the cause of his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and neurogenic bladder. Service connection is granted for these conditions as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability but remanded the issue of service connection for a headache disability. The Veteran's current back and headache disabilities are not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating as they are related to his periods of active duty. The cervical spine disability is being remanded due to inadequate examination, while the thoracolumbar strain requires a new VA examination.