Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn due to the Veteran's representative requesting withdrawal of all appeals.,All appeals for service connection have been dismissed as per the Veteran's representative's requests.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical degenerative disc disease and respiratory or lung condition (claimed as TB) due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and potentially obtain missing service treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic back condition, including intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, and lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathies, is related to his military service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to back surgery in September 2015 is denied as the intent to file or claim was not received within one year of the surgery.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's back condition had its onset during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for schedular TDIU, and there is no evidence to suggest he is unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and degenerative arthritis of the spine. The decision is based on evidence showing chronicity of symptoms during and after military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the denial of service connection for cervical spine injury and lumbar spine condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.,Both conditions were found to be directly related to injuries sustained during military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a back disorder are granted. The appeal for asthma is dismissed as it was previously pending in the legacy system.

New evidence has been presented supporting the Veteran's claims for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorders, bilateral hip disorders, lumbar spine disorder.,The Board finds that new and relevant evidence has been submitted in support of these claims.

The Board has decided to remand all of the Veteran's claims, including those for higher ratings for his bladder condition, bilateral knee instability, and other conditions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded. Additional evidence will be considered, and new examinations may be required.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and left knee conditions are now considered service-connected as of August 22, 2019. The effective date for these benefits is set to this date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating determinations on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The appeals for service connection for anxiety, low back disability, bilateral flatfoot, asthma, and sleep apnea have been dismissed due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182 Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral pes planus with bilateral degenerative joint disease of the 1st metatarsal phalangeal joint with metatarsalgia are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of her conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative joint disease of the right leg were dismissed due to concurrent adjudication issues.

The Veteran's back condition, neck condition, and right hip condition are all granted as service connected.,Reasoning: The evidence is in equipoise regarding the onset of these conditions during active duty.

The Board has already reinstated a 20 percent rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease, anterior compression deformity L1 and degenerative joint disease from July 1, 2020 to April 14, 2022. The appeal is dismissed as there are no longer any unresolved issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it had its onset within one year of separation from service.,Service connection for low back strain is denied due to lack of a nexus between the current condition and in-service injury.