Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including arthritis, had its onset during service and is currently manifested. The thoracolumbar spine disability is also considered to have been incurred during service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun in service and has persisted, with the Board finding that reasonable doubt must be resolved in her favor.

Service connection for lumbosacral strain is granted.,The Veteran's initial rating for generalized anxiety disorder prior to October 4, 2018 was increased to 50 percent. The rating of 70 percent from April 29, 2019 onwards is also granted.

The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, lumbar retrolisthesis and spinal narrowing from September 30, 2019 to December 8, 2020, and major depressive disorder have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent, effective as of the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar facet arthropathy with degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain an adequate examination prior to the June 2023 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial evaluation higher than 10 percent for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine and left leg pain associated with the lumbar spine, as well as a TDIU rating. The VA will obtain retrospective opinions to assess the Veteran's conditions from October 2009 to May 2018, and may refer the claim for an extraschedular TDIU if not granted based on schedular criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors, specifically regarding the lack of an opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran will need a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disability, urinary tract disability, increased rating for back disability, and right foot plantar fasciitis are pending.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence or procedural deficiencies.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of lumbosacral strain, citing the grant of total disability due to unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to concerns about the sufficiency of the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 11, 2019 for the award of service connection of left and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with lumbosacral strain. An initial rating of 100 percent for coronary artery disease is also granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 11, 2019 for the award of service connection of left and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy due to lumbosacral strain disability. The Veteran's coronary artery disease is also rated at 100% since September 24, 2013.

The Veteran's low back disability, including SI joint dysfunction and mild arthritic changes in the thoracic spine, ankylosing spondylitis, and degenerative arthritis of the spine, is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding its onset during service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were denied as there was no new and relevant evidence presented to support the claims.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of teeth due to trauma, initial rating for lumbosacral spine strain, and initial compensable rating for bilateral foot tinea pedis have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions based on the evidence provided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and spinal stenosis as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began in service or are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis, low back condition, and right sciatica. The evidence shows that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service, particularly due to the number of jumps he performed as a paratrooper.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 1, 2012 for the Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility. The decision is based on the fact that the Veteran became unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities starting from January 26, 2009.