Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected allergic rhinitis has been denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for left, right knee conditions and lower back condition. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis are remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Unspecified Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress, right heel traumatic fracture with degenerative joint disease, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The decision is based on a finding that the weight gain related to these conditions caused by depression led to the development of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service injury related to the claimed condition.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain was granted, but an initial rating in excess of 10 percent is denied due to lack of medical nexus establishing causation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, lumbar strain, left wrist condition, and right hand tendinopathy due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence and urgency are found to be related to his service-connected lumbar DDD, IVDS, and spinal stenosis. Service connection is granted for right and left foot conditions and hypertension on a secondary basis. The rating for lumbosacral strain remains at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability claim should be remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it had its onset in service and whether it is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain but has remanded the claim of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease L5-S1 due to insufficient evidence.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all listed conditions and the 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, non-compensable service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for low back disability. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and a proper medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for neck and back disorders is dismissed as the Veteran never intended to file a claim for VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy claims were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.,Compensable ratings for scars of the posterior and anterior trunk were also denied due to lack of qualifying scar area or underlying soft tissue damage.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and there is no evidence of bilateral hearing loss or a current thoracolumbar spine disorder. Service connection for joint pain and a thoracolumbar spine disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal of the proposed decrease in disability rating for lumbosacral strain from 40% to 20% has been dismissed. The Board also remanded cases regarding increased ratings for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and errors in obtaining opinions. The issues of low back strain, left knee condition, and left hip condition are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence. The initial rating for tinnitus remains denied, and the left elbow contusion is rated as noncompensable. Right wrist sprain also remains denied. Service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee tendonitis, and lumbosacral strain are remanded.

The Veteran's skin disability and back disability were restored to their previous ratings of 30% and 20%, respectively, effective September 3, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).,Service connection for a cervical spine disability with TBI residuals was also denied due to lack of credible evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a back condition, erectile dysfunction, flatfoot, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or service connection.,No VA examinations were conducted to support the claims.