Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's PTSD is granted service connection, while his right eye disorder and tinnitus are denied. The lumbar spine and cervical spine disorders have been remanded for further review.

Service connection is granted for degenerative joint disease and spondylosis of the cervical and cervicothoracic regions, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia of right leg, left radial and ulnar radicular pain and paresthesia, right radial and ulnar radicular pain and paresthesia, posttraumatic residuals right 2nd finger, and headaches (claimed as cervicothoracic spine pain).,Service connection is denied for irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory insufficiency with dyspnea, chronic maculopapular dermatitis, and heart disorder.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for higher ratings for service-connected residuals of the right hip and thigh, as well as for a lower back disorder and sciatic nerve disorders in both legs. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's right shoulder and lumbar spine arthritis are granted as service-connected. The left shoulder disability is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and obstructive sleep apnea. The case is being remanded to obtain an adequate VA examination for the latter claim.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied.,The Veteran's right ankle and headache disabilities are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis disability is remanded for further development.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no service connection decision is made.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, right hip/thigh, and right knee disabilities due to chronic residuals of multiple orthopedic injuries sustained during military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.,RLE and LLE sciatic nerve radiculopathy are both rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded these issues for further review.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current medical evidence.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board notes that unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine has not been established.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective February 29, 2020. The lumbar spine post-laminectomy syndrome and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy are both denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and scar status post pilonidal cyst have been granted service connection, while the pes planus has been denied. The initial compensable rating for PFB and a 10 percent disability rating for the pilonidal cyst scar have been granted.

The Veteran's left hip disability characterized by pain, including sclerotic changes, is granted as secondary to her service-connected right knee and thoracolumbar spine disabilities. The restoration of a 10 percent rating for the status post reconstruction ACL deficient right knee is also granted.

The Veteran's nosebleeds, sinusitis, tinea corporis, and lower back condition are remanded for further examination and opinion. The AOJ will consider all relevant evidence of record during the readjudication process.

An effective date prior to December 29, 2016, for the award of a 10% rating for left great toe fracture residuals is denied.,A rating in excess of 10% for left great toe fracture residuals is denied.,Basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 23, 2019 for a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a finding of entitlement to TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied. The claims for service connection for a sleep disability and a right knee disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for dorsalgia condition, lower back condition, bilateral heel spurs, plantar fasciitis condition, and bilateral lower extremity pain. The AOJ is instructed to consider these issues in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities due to a lack of adequate VA medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current disabilities. The Veteran is already service connected for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, which he attributes as the cause of his current radicular symptoms.