Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine spondylosis and stenosis post laminectomy syndrome (low back), right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. As a result, these claims are being remanded to allow for further review.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is being remanded for further evaluation due to a lack of range of motion testing during flareups.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service events or exposures related to his conditions, and thus could not establish a nexus between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that new evidence supports the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left foot condition, low back condition, and headache condition. The evidence shows these conditions worsened during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for right leg varicose veins, generalized anxiety disorder (previously claimed as anxiety/depression), and lumbosacral strain with effective dates of June 29, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective dates have been granted, with the awards of lumbosacral strain, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, allergic rhinitis, tinnitus, nephrolithiasis, and major depressive disorder being effective September 15, 2017. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder was denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral facet hypertrophy with degenerative disc disease is granted an effective date of October 30, 2019 for a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the case for further development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain, finding that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports a determination that the condition began during active duty and is related to an in-service injury. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical nexus opinions provided by the VA in July 2020. The Board finds that further examination and opinion are needed to determine if his current disabilities were caused or aggravated by his active-duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle pain, finding that there is no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his in-service complaints of muscle-related symptoms and any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for low back disability and left hip disability are dismissed. A 50 percent disability rating is granted for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for a low back condition and right ankle sprain due to duty-to-assist errors. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's low back disability began during his active service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to readjudicate the claims for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbar spine condition, right elbow condition, and right shoulder condition. The appeal is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for lung cancer and remanded the issues of service connection for thyroid disorder and lumbosacral strain due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors and requests additional opinions on whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability, and if so, whether it was a substantial factor in causing his current obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since June 1, 2020. The Board has granted TDIU and assigned June 1, 2020 as the effective date. The Veteran is also entitled to DEA benefits from June 1, 2020.