Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence of current disability or persistent symptoms related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his thoracolumbar spine condition and TDIU is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no evidence of limitation to less than 60 degrees of forward flexion or combined range of motion less than 120 degrees. The right hip/femur disabilities were separately rated as 20 and 10 percent.,The Veteran's right knee strain was not evaluated for a higher rating, and the right hip scar did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for all issues related to the service-connected conditions listed, including PTSD, low back disability, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right foot and left foot disabilities, hip limitations, wrist ganglion cyst, scar on the right wrist, allergic rhinitis, sciatic radicular pain of the left lower extremity, shoulder disability, and traumatic brain injury. As a result, all appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 30 percent since June 10, 2019. The Board finds that the new evidence received in July 2019 supports readjudicating his claim for service connection of a spine condition and remands for further action on his right hip iliotibial band syndrome issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to new evidence received since the final December 2015 rating decision. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder are denied as there is no current disability at any point during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis, as well as lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and facet hypertrophy, both of which are found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected right foot and left foot cold injury residuals.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, and right hip tendinosis and bursitis, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred during his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with an increased rating for major depressive disorder to 100 percent and service connection for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity effective March 9, 2023.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, low back condition, patellofemoral syndrome, patellofemoral osteoarthrosis, residuals of left ankle injury, and PTSD with sleep disturbances. The claims are now remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar and right knee disorders, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder.

Service connection for bilateral feet pain to include flat feet, a cervical spine/neck disability, a low back disability, a left shoulder disability, diverticulosis, and hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not warrant a higher than 50 percent evaluation. The claim for service connection for low back strain was also denied due to lack of in-service injury or incident.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use assistive devices and his functional limitations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back disability, left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, and left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to an in-service injury and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine stenosis and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand several claims due to inadequate examinations and missing evidence. The Veteran's migraine headaches, cervical spine strain, lumbosacral strain, and obstructive sleep apnea are all being reviewed further.