Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has denied service connection for chronic pain, right lumbar radiculopathy, left lumbar radiculopathy, and alcohol dependency as secondary to a low back disability. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a low back disability, finding that no claim was filed prior to April 26, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in the January 2020 rating decision. The Veteran's lower back and right leg conditions are being reviewed, as well as his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for segmental and somatic dysfunction of the lumbar region, cervicobrachial syndrome, and radiculopathy, lumbosacral region. The conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service aviation duties.

The Veteran's back disability is denied as there was no chronic in-service disease or injury, and the current diagnosis of minimal lumbar degenerative disc disease did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's right knee disability is denied due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that led to his current condition.,The Veteran's left knee disability is denied as there was no chronic in-service disease or injury, and the current diagnosis of tricompartmental osteoarthritis with meniscal tear did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's back condition was granted an increased rating from February 1, 2019. The right and left leg radiculopathies were also granted initial ratings of 20 percent each.

The Board has decided to remand all claims due to duty-to-assist errors, requiring additional examinations and opinions for the left knee, right knee, lumbar spine, and tinnitus issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and low back disabilities must be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. Specifically, VA treatment records from 2003 to present need to be obtained, and a VA examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for tinnitus as moot due to a grant of service connection in a prior decision. The claims for left foot disorder, left shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs additional evidence to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's low back condition has been rated at 10 percent since September 15, 2004. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional impairment due to pain and other factors.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is related to his military service and has been granted service connection.,Prostate cancer, linked to in-service radiation exposure, has also been granted on a direct basis with an effective date based on the date of claim.

The Veteran's ankylosing spondylitis and bilateral knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral syndrome are granted at 50% and 20% ratings respectively. The service connection claims for a bilateral ankle condition and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities.,Service connection was established for these conditions based on a direct relationship to active duty service.

The Board has dismissed all issues of increased evaluations and service connection due to the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease with spinal fusion and spinal stenosis, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability, including multilevel stenosis, lumbar disc disease, and arthritis, is granted as his current condition is related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, lumbar spine, and headache conditions are granted. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for left knee instability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot scar, claimed as cellulitis. The other claims of service connection are remanded.