Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition began during his active military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and bilateral knee disabilities related to parachute jumps should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a right knee disability and low back disability due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran is potentially entitled to presumptive service connection based on exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder may be related to his service, but more development is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of the condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left ankle sprain, right shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, and left elbow disorder have all been granted service connection with the appropriate ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to errors in obtaining and associating medical records, as well as failing to provide a VA examination for some of the conditions. The claims will be reconsidered upon completion of these directives.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and pseudofolliculitis barbae, but denied service connection for back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and/or sciatica, left hip disability, right hip disability, and neck disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a forehead scar, as a residual of a head injury. The issues of neck and back disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service connected lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis was denied. The rating decision on appeal awarded a 40 percent disability rating under DC 5237, and the Veteran seeks a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is being asked to provide additional evidence or undergo examinations to determine if her disabilities are related to her in-service injuries and conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, and low back disability as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran was found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities from November 9, 2015. The Board granted an effective date of November 9, 2015 for the TDIU award.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5243. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis.,The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating as there was no indication of severe incomplete paralysis or marked muscular atrophy.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on their back disability, left femoral radiculopathy, and left sciatic radiculopathy have been dismissed due to the lack of timely filing of a VA Form 10182.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection due to inadequate examinations and missing evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo further VA examinations to determine if her back disability and sleep disorder are related to her active military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of propriety of the reduction in rating for the Veteran's lumbar back disability, entitlement to increased ratings for her lumbar back and associated radiculopathy disabilities, and requests for additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right hip disabilities have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence that tends to prove or disprove a matter at issue with respect to these claims. The AOJ will readjudicate the claims, taking into consideration all of the evidence of record.

The Veteran's low back disability and associated radiculopathy have been consistently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable criteria. The Board denied his request for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is caused by his service-connected left heel condition. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal for service connection of psoriasis and the grant of service connection for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine with a disability rating of 20 percent effective December 16, 2019 are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.