Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic lumbosacral strain was granted with an effective date of August 9, 2018.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, bladder disorder (bladder incontinence), thoracolumbar spine disorder, and left ankle disorder were denied as there is no current evidence of a diagnosed disability or functional impairment.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating from January 19, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and other trauma and stressor related disorders), and erectile dysfunction due to potential in-service diagnoses and current conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of evidence from his active-duty service period.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for scoliosis and osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, resulting in the dismissal of this case.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically missing medical records and inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain authorization for private treatment records from Dr. S. B. at Northwestern Medicine and request an opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, cervicothoracic spine pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, right ankle pain, right shoulder impingement syndrome, TMJ disorder, and unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder. The evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for a TDIU, increased rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine (previously rated as chronic lumbosacral strain), and service-connection for neck spur secondary to the same condition are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and effective dates have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a low back condition has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal prior to any decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted. The claim for a lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal before a decision was made.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, vitamin deficiency, and muscle and joint pain as these conditions are not related to the Veteran's military service.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated based on their current severity.,The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome knee conditions have not resulted in a rating higher than the assigned.

The Board has denied service connection for allergies and remanded the claim for service connection for a lower back condition due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for left ankle, back, right arm, and left arm disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for tinnitus, increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and an increased rating for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative in August 2024.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding no in-service injury or disease related to his back and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current disability and service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the August 2021 rating decision. The Veteran's right foot gout is rated at 20 percent, also effective from the same date.