Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease, L5-S1, but denied service connection for right rotator cuff tendinopathy.,The Veteran's lower back condition is considered presumptively related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, and right foot peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining medical opinions that did not adequately address the relationship between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine disability prior to February 8, 2021 was denied. The effective date of the 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability on February 8, 2021 is also denied.,The Veteran's right knee instability from September 3, 2020 was granted a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The claim for readjudication of the low back disability is also granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to procedural errors, including a duty-to-assist error in the January 2023 rating decision. The Veteran's low back disability is being considered secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's back disability is related to service and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic sinusitis and migraines, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since November 8, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal of the proposed decrease in the rating for his service-connected lumbar strain disability from 20 percent to 10 percent is dismissed because it was not a final decision and there are no questions of law or fact on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right ankle degenerative arthritis, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy with radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent from July 17, 2017. The Board found that the disability did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back condition, neck pain, temporomandibular disorder (TMD), and headaches due to a lack of verified service records. The AOJ is directed to obtain the appellant's service personnel records from the National Personnel Records Center.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a direct link to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left leg sciatica is not service-connected due to a lack of evidence linking it to his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The case is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches but has remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine due to insufficient medical opinions and exposure basis.

Service connection for PFB is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hip pain and thoracolumbar spine disability may be related to service, but further examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted with a July 23, 2018 effective date. The Board found that the evidence showed she had been continuously employed since January 2016 and her service-connected disabilities prevented her from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fractures and degenerative joint diseases of the knees, back, hips, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the entire period on appeal. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine and lower back conditions are not related to his active military service, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, right arm, left ankle, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions based on lack of in-service treatment records. The Veteran is advised to submit or identify any relevant evidence.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to limited motion of 10 degrees of extension.,The Veteran's semilunar cartilage removal of the right knee has been granted a 10 percent rating based on frequent episodes of joint pain and effusion.