Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with mechanical low back pain is granted as service connected. The Veteran's neck disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and a trapezius strain, is denied as not being related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 24, 2020 for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. The rating assigned is 10 percent for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain, finding that his current disability is related to an in-service injury and that there is no direct evidence of pre-existing condition or exposure-based presumptions.

Service connection is granted for chronic bronchitis pursuant to the PACT Act. Service connection is denied for left knee disability, right knee disability, Morton's neuroma of the left foot, thoracolumbar disability, left shin splints, and right shin splints.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for service connection have not been decided.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been presented to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a lumbar strain. The claims are being remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's neck and back disabilities are granted service connection, while the initial rating for PTSD with MDD is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 70 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision denying service connection for OSA, claimed as secondary to service-connected psychiatric disorder and DDD of the lumbar spine, is flawed due to a failure to consider whether obesity was an intermediate step in the development of OSA. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for spondylosis with diffuse degenerative arthritis and multilevel degenerative disc disease is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in October 2023.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions obtained are insufficient to make a decision on the Veteran's claims. The case is therefore being remanded for further action.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and internal derangement of the left knee with osteoarthritis, status-post total knee replacement. The evidence supports that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of residuals of TBI, a nose condition, sleep apnea, and a back condition as they were previously denied in March 2018.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of low back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder need to be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, brain disease due to trauma, headaches, chronic sleep impairment, and lumbar disability are being remanded for further development.,No effective date is assigned as the AOJ has not determined a specific date of claim or date entitlement arose.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches was denied as the evidence did not establish a direct relationship between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as the claims were granted in a September 2020 rating decision.,No effective date is assigned as all benefits are already in place.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to August 2, 2020, and at 70 percent thereafter. The appeal is remanded for further examination and rating considerations.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc disease and lower extremity radiculopathy were not rated as requested in the decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left hip, right knee (secondary to lower back condition), left knee, left shoulder, right hip, and right shoulder conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were addressed in a September 2020 rating decision, which granted the requested effective dates.,The Veteran was granted service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression associated with GERD with H. Pylori status post laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with residual bloating, flatulence, and inability to vomit, to include IBS.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to unclear employment status and need for additional medical opinions regarding functional impairment without considering medication effects.