Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims of increased evaluations for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities remain on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral flat feet (pes planus), finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right ankle disabilities, as well as a lumbosacral strain with DJD Lumbosacral Spine. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. A VA medical opinion is needed to address this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder and degenerative arthritis of the spine due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The VA is required to obtain addendum medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his service.

The Veteran's PTSD, hypertension, and OSA have been granted service connection. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.,Service connection has been established for PTSD, hypertension, and OSA based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence from earlier periods of service. The Appellant's current disabilities are being reviewed based on the available records.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU is remanded due to the inadequacy of a recent VA examination, which did not account for significant functional loss during flare-ups. The case is also inextricably intertwined with the rating decision on the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition was reopened and granted effective July 1, 2019. The Board denied an earlier effective date.

The Board dismissed the appeal for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a September 2020 Rating Decision due to agreement between VBA and the appellant that he would not continue to pursue these fees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no in-service disease or injury and that the current condition did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support a presumption of service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine is granted. The claim for right trochanteric pain syndrome (hip condition) secondary to a service-connected knee disability is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to support the claim. The Veteran had a preexisting back condition prior to his second tour of duty in January 2013, which was not aggravated by active service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the service connection claim for a lumbar disability due to the appellant's withdrawal before a decision was made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not in need of regular aid and assistance nor permanently bedridden.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back condition and secondary service connection for coronary artery disease as due to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's back disability is granted service connection, but his GERD and asthma are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for lower back disability, left thigh disability, and left hip disability due to insufficient evidence of a service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, to include degenerative disc disease (DDD), finding that there is no probative medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and left knee condition due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.