Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim to prevent the reduction of his left knee disability rating from 60% to 50% is dismissed.,The Veteran's low back disability is denied as not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and a low back condition, finding that the evidence supports these conditions began in or were caused by the Veteran's active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease, right shin splint, and left shin splint as they were improperly docketed in the Direct Review docket. The issues will be adjudicated in a separate Hearing Lane decision.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service-connected.,His depression and anxiety are already covered by his existing service-connected adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood, so these claims are dismissed.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was granted in March 2023, and the matter is dismissed as it no longer meets the criteria for appeal. The claims for service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a TDIU and DEA benefits prior to September 28, 2006 due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran may be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating in excess of 70 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for L5-S1 lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.,Service connection for hearing loss was denied because there is no indication of its manifestation within one year of service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the ratings for left knee conditions and back pain, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his low back disability and for a compensable rating for his left lower extremity radiculopathy due to conflicting evidence from VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination addressing any mid/lower back disability, and the need for further evidence regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and if so, whether it would have occurred without the aggravation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several knee and lower extremity conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome and a back disability with sciatica due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic bronchitis, lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disability, allergic sinusitis, and left ischial tuberosity bursitis as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back condition. The examiner's opinion is found to be insufficient and requires further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for chronic fatigue, cervical spine disability, low back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and left hip disability due to potential exposure to burn pits during active duty in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of January 12, 2019 for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with lumbosacral and thoracic strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is not causally related to his service-connected disabilities, but may have been aggravated by them. The Board also found that obesity, which may be linked to his service-connected disabilities, was a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea. As such, the issue must be remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back condition is denied, and his PTSD rating is granted at 50 percent effective from December 13, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD.