Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral ankle conditions and bilateral plantar fasciitis.,The Board has also granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his active service.

Your claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been granted in a previous rating decision. Therefore, this issue is dismissed as there are no longer any pending claims.

The Veteran's GERD has been granted an initial 30 percent rating, subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder has been granted a 40 percent rating, subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has also been granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae and sinusitis have been denied due to lack of current disability. The right wrist condition and low back condition are remanded as the VA examinations were inadequate.,Service connection cannot be granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae or sinusitis because there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for various knee, ankle, foot, and neurological disorders as well as a psychiatric disorder and high blood pressure. The evidence does not show current disabilities of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to her service-connected Persistent Depressive Disorder and Lumbar Strain with Degenerative Disc Disease, finding that obesity resulting from these conditions caused or aggravated her sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining evidence and ensuring proper duty-to-assist compliance. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the hearing, leaving no issues for appellate consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a back disability is denied as the decision was final due to lack of timely appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine has been granted with an effective date of March 24, 2020.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for MDD and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, lumbosacral radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and service connection for bowel and bladder incontinence were remanded.,The Veteran's claims are being returned to VA for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for CFS, GERD, and Raynaud's syndrome is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a low back disability, sinusitis, OSA, and tinnitus are also dismissed.

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Education Assistance eligibility are denied as the evidence does not show he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 11, 2019.

The Veteran's initial rating for adjustment disorder was granted at 70 percent effective March 5, 2015. His TDIU claim was also granted effective May 19, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spine disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, is service-connected. The evidence shows a back injury during service and post-service symptoms of pain related to lifting heavy objects.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to service and may be considered for direct service connection. However, there are issues regarding whether his back disability is secondary to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The decision is remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, separate from the already service-connected lumbar spine strain, is dismissed. The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50% rating. The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is denied a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip arthritis and lumbar spondylosis has been received. The AOJ should readjudicate these claims in the first instance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examination and duty to assist errors.