Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability and an increased rating of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from April 6, 2021.

The Veteran's LLE femoral radiculopathy is granted at a 20 percent rating. The ratings for the back disability and LLE sciatic radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being readjudicated due to the submission of new and relevant evidence, including private treatment records and a medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding service connection for mechanical mid and low back pain with 30 degree right thoracic idiopathic scoliosis, as well as questions about whether the condition pre-existed service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back conditions, left knee conditions, and GERD due to his refusal of VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a duty to assist error. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was granted. He now has a 50% disability rating for migraine headaches, bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disability, right hip limitation of flexion, left hip limitation of flexion, right hip limitation of extension, left hip limitation of adduction, sinusitis, major right shoulder disability, minor left shoulder disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (secondary to lumbar spine disability).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the failure to obtain relevant medical records.,An effective date prior to December 2, 2019 for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a rating of 70 percent for PTSD with TBI and service connection established for the lower back disorder. The decision also noted that the Veteran had experienced symptoms consistent with these conditions during his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient VA opinions and new evidence not considered at the time of the previous decision. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being reviewed again.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded his claims of service connection for right shoulder disability and back disability due to incomplete STRs.

The Veteran's low back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathies are each rated at 40 percent prior to March 22, 2018. The claim is granted for these ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent and 40 percent for lumbar spine disability, as well as an earlier effective date. The appeal is being remanded due to missing documents from the initial claim process.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip pain is denied.,The Board has also decided to remand the claims for service connection for low back degenerative arthritis and right eye disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for a back disability, right ankle disability, and right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the current record. The Veteran's service connection claim remains denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a lower back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability is service-connected, as there is at least equipoise evidence supporting a finding of in-service injury and current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back condition began during service and is related to an in-service event, granting service connection for this condition.