Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including whether they are related to her military service. The claims for service connection will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeals for lumbar disability, migraine headaches, anxiety and depression, and polycystic ovaries as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability claimed as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations obtained prior to the September 2020 rating decision were inadequate and remanded for further action. The Veteran's left shoulder, right knee, left knee, cervical spine (including radiculopathy and spondylosis), and back disabilities are all being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for left ankle injury, low back injury, and sinusitis. The Board has dismissed these issues as the appeal is withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected lumbosacral strain is remanded due to pre-decisional errors and the need for additional medical examination. The VA also needs to obtain private treatment records from Ketan B. Patel.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. His headaches are rated at the maximum schedular disability rating of 50 percent. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is not higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all listed conditions was dismissed due to his disagreement with the denial of left flatfoot, which was granted in a prior decision. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding insufficient evidence of an in-service injury and credible accounts from medical providers contradicting his assertions.

The Veteran's lumbar strain (low back condition) has been granted an initial rating of 40 percent.,Service connection for neck condition, left arm radiculopathy, right arm radiculopathy, and sleep apnea have all been granted.

The Board has found pre-decisional error in the November 2019 rating decision and requires VA examinations to cure the error. The claims for service connection are REMANDED.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 13, 2016 for the award of a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), finding that it was incurred during active military service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and lumbar strain.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their relationship to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee and back conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is entitled to a new examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, a left knee injury, and a low back disability have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported these claims based on in-service events and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right inguinal hernia was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a small, postoperative recurrent inguinal hernia that is not well supported by a truss or is not readily reducible.,New and relevant evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus. However, the Veteran's tinnitus was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal of the timeliness of his substantive appeal was granted, and the underlying legacy claim is reinstated for further appellate consideration.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of hearing loss due to a withdrawal request from the Veteran and his representative.,The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthrosis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service.