Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for rectal disease, acquired psychiatric disorder, IBS, and chronic fatigue syndrome are denied as there is no current disability. The claim for fibromyalgia is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.,The Veteran's back condition claims (right lower extremity neurological disorder, left lower extremity neurological disorder) are also remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding reductions in ratings and claims for additional disability compensation due to a lack of proper Notice of Disagreement (NOD) form.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected PTSD, lumbar spine strain, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, neck, and skin disorders due to missing service treatment records. The AOJ should attempt to obtain these records or make a formal finding if they are unavailable.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as she has withdrawn her claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip stress fracture, service connection for low back strain, an anxiety condition, and PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability due to the absence of evidence of current disability.,The Veteran's claim for sleep disorder is remanded as there was no VA examination or opinion regarding her claimed condition.,The Veteran's cervical dystonia claim is remanded as she did not receive an appropriate medical opinion from a neurologist regarding aggravation by service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's head tremors and tension headaches claims are remanded due to the inextricability of these issues with her cervical dystonia claim.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as service-connected, while the cervical, left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to lack of evidence showing unfavorable ankylosis.,The Veteran's left hip disability is rated at 50 percent. The Board found no evidence supporting a higher rating based on severe or marked severity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability was aggravated by active duty service. The claim will be returned for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the claims due to a duty-to-assist error and requires further examination for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine disability is remanded due to inconsistencies and incompleteness in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral eye refractive error and back disability are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a superimposed injury or disease during service. The Veteran's current conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis was granted, with a disability rating of 40 percent effective March 5, 2020. The Board found that the evidence supported this decision based on the March 2020 VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection for compensation purposes.,Service connection is denied for a sleep disability due to insufficient evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, particularly in relation to his service-connected bilateral knee strain with chondromalacia patella.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the other issues (low back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,For the low back condition, the Board finds that there is not enough evidence to establish a link between the condition and service. The examiner will be asked to provide an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence, back disability, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The issues of service connection for these conditions are related to his service-connected left varicocele.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted for some claims, but not all. The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted, while the claims for rash (entire body), left ankle disability, migraine headaches, back disability, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) are remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee strain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee strain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome, and retrolisthesis, is related to his service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.