Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and cervical spine disability were restored to their previous levels, effective March 29, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hearing loss or tinnitus, and the effective dates were granted based on continuous pursuit of claims since May 2021.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.,There is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain (previously diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine) and allergic rhinitis, finding that both conditions are related to active service.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting VA's criteria. The Board has also remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea and lumbar spine disability, as well as the claim for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder conditions, all of which are related to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent staph infections has been denied as there is no new and relevant evidence received since the July 2015 rating decision.,The appeal of a proposed reduction in the PTSD disability rating to 50% was dismissed because it was not an appealable final decision.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a back condition and an earlier effective date of the 10 percent evaluation for a right knee condition have been dismissed due to untimely filing. The appeal for service connection for a skin condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle sprain, and left shoulder disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic sinusitis and remanded the claims of service connection for chronic allergies and thoracolumbar back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's current low back diagnoses were at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia remains at a 40% rating, the maximum under Diagnostic Code 5025.,The Veteran's low back disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.,The Veteran's right thumb disability warrants a compensable rating starting from October 13, 2016.,The Veteran's right little finger disability is granted a 10% rating.,TDIU prior to October 13, 2016, is denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability, have been granted service connection. The lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent effective December 29, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability are remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination addressing the theories of direct service connection.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, feet, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, skin, and anxiety, depression, PTSD are dismissed. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with central and intervertebral nerve root canal stenosis, finding that it is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral wrist nerve condition, bilateral hearing loss, neck condition, back condition, right shoulder clavicle disability, and left elbow condition have all been denied. The Board found no current disabilities of the claimed conditions.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, left hand disorder (including thumb), right arm disorder, back disorder, sinus disorder, and Hepatitis C have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that would support these claims.