Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected left lower extremity condition. The decision is based on medical evidence and the Veteran's history of injury during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a recurrent lumbosacral spine disability, finding that there is no evidence of such condition during active service or within one year after separation. The diagnosed degenerative disc disease was first noted many years post-service and is attributed to multiple work-related injuries.

The Veteran's low back disorder is rated at 10 percent, and the claims for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted with separate 10 percent ratings. The lumbar scar remains noncompensable, and bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The reduction in the disability rating for lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis from 20 percent to 10 percent effective July 1, 2020 was not proper. The Veteran's condition has not improved enough to warrant a lower rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment prior to June 7, 2019. The Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is granted a 20% rating, effective March 19, 2015. The claims for sleep apnea, hypertension, and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left hip strain, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The VA will obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back and cervical spine disabilities due to worsening symptoms. The claim is being remanded because a VA examination was not conducted that addressed whether the Veteran's symptoms are equivalent to functional ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA medical examination, and the Veteran's lay statements indicate that his back pain may be associated with his service-connected bilateral hip disability.

The Veteran was awarded a one-time retroactive CRDP compensation payment of $18,290.58 for the period from September 1, 2016 through January 31, 2021 due to an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbar strain. The appeal is dismissed as moot since the Veteran was granted the full benefit sought.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS is granted an effective date of January 7, 2016.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to concerns about credibility and additional evidence needed, including VistA records.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and has remanded the issue of service connection for cervical arthritis and spinal stenosis.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was denied in February 2006. The appeal is on the issue of effective dates.,Effective ratings were granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but not for the back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of limitation to less than full range of motion or other disabling conditions such as muscle spasm or abnormal spinal contour.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, to include degenerative arthritis of the spine due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence submitted when the claim is readjudicated.

The Veteran requested to dismiss his claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and the Board granted this request.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, epididymitis, a left ankle disability, a lower back disability, a left hip disability, and tinnitus as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.