Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shin splints, left leg disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disability, abnormal heart / stress disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and shoulder disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's claims based on his service records.

The Veteran's right hand disability and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder are granted service connection, while sinusitis, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis, and scarring status post inguinal hernia surgery do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine with IVDS, as well as radiculopathy in multiple extremities, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on the severity of his disabilities.,The Veteran was granted 30 percent, 40 percent, and 20 percent evaluations for middle radicular group radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, and lower extremities respectively. However, these evaluations are still denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are rated at the maximum allowed under current criteria. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for DDD and DJD of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as OSA. The VA will obtain any outstanding VA treatment records from Montgomery VAMC beginning January 1, 2011, and provide the Veteran with a new VA examination to address the etiology of his thoracolumbar spine disorders and OSA.

The appeal for service connection of chronic low back pain is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a lumbosacral strain (claimed as low back pain) is remanded due to incomplete examination findings and the need for additional testing.

The Board has determined that there are incomplete service treatment records and a need for clarification of the Veteran's periods of active duty, inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), and active duty for training (ACDUTRA). As such, these issues are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service connected. The right knee and back disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected scoliosis of the spine and chronic low back pain are being remanded for further evaluation due to incomplete medical records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The evidence does not establish continuity of symptomatology for these conditions.,The Veteran's hand or finger disability was not related to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right knee, left knee, and degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are directly related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right knee and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are presumed to have been incurred in active service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating and service connection due to credibility issues with the Veteran's statements. Additional development is required, including a new examination to address the nature and severity of lumbosacral spine disability and peripheral neuropathy in each extremity, as well as toxic exposure risk activities during service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional information regarding his employment history and skills.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions and lack of examination in both psychiatric and lumbar spine conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for his neck condition was dismissed as he withdrew the issue prior to a decision being made.

Service connection is granted for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and brachial neuralgia.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and restoration of a previous rating were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases for further adjudication due to deficiencies in the previous decisions, including failure to consider the effect of the Veteran's pain on his earning capacity and the need for additional medical opinions.