Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling an examination to assess the Veteran's lumbar disorder and obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bronchitis residuals, hearing loss, low back disability, and right ankle disability have been granted. The VA has ordered additional development for the hearing loss claim due to potential burn pit exposure, and the low back and right ankle disabilities require further examination.

The Board has remanded multiple claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, including those related to service connection and disability ratings.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for a tailbone fracture was denied. The claims for increased ratings of low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and hemorrhoids were also denied. TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's back disabilities, including ankylosing spondylitis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's migraines are also granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis and headaches prior to specific dates were denied.,For the period before August 10, 2022, the Veteran's lumbar degenerative arthritis was rated at 10%.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating of 40 percent or more for his lumbar spine spondylosis. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right wrist disability, cervical spine disability, and low back disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any current disabilities related to these conditions during his qualifying periods of active duty.,There is no credible evidence showing that the Veteran experienced any injuries or diseases related to these conditions during his service in the North Carolina National Guard.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for service-connected disabilities is granted, and his increased rating claim for the lumbar spine disability prior to May 4, 2021, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection or increased ratings for various conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain, sleep apnea, and anxiety/panic attacks, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) effective October 12, 2018.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, but denied both on the merits due to lack of evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to his shoulders, elbows, hands, ankles, and back are remanded due to confusion regarding the procedural posture of the case and clarification needed on whether any issues had previously been adjudicated. The Board also notes that updated VA treatment records should be obtained and an examination conducted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves were denied. The case was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claims for service connection for back and gastrointestinal disabilities has been granted. The issues of right foot Achilles tendonitis, hypertension, shin splints, gastroesophageal disorder (GERD), and lower and upper back disability have been remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back DDD and granted it. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ankle and low back disabilities, as well as his sciatic nerve radiculopathies. The remand includes obtaining new medical opinions regarding the level of functional impairment due to instability and flare-ups, and obtaining additional VA treatment records.

The claims for service connection of lumbar spine, throat, left foot, right foot, left foot toes numbness, and right foot toes numbness conditions are all granted.,The claims for service connection of left knee and right knee conditions are remanded.