Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back condition, finding that it is related to an injury sustained during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder, DDD of the lumbar spine, hypertension, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, residuals of right hand carpal tunnel release, left knee chondromalacia patella and meniscal tear with shin splints, and right knee chondromalacia patella with shin splints, have rendered her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and low back disability, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of his conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease is related to active service, granted.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) disability is proximately due to his service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis and shin splints status post ORIF left tibia fracture, granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis due to new evidence showing presumptive exposure to toxic materials during service in Southwest Asia. The Veteran's claim is granted.,The claims for service connection for back disability and right knee disability remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for anxiety disorder, erythema multiforme, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been dismissed as the RO granted service connection for a different condition in April 2023. The Board has also remanded cases regarding upper back and lower back conditions due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is denied for erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, with no current diagnosis found in the record.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted a 40 percent rating, effective from May 13, 2022. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted a 20 percent rating, effective from June 5, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and nasal fracture due to additional development being warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his lumbosacral strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the lumbosacral strain was denied. The current rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain is maintained.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back condition, cervical spine condition, right knee condition, left shoulder condition, bilateral ankle conditions, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board also found that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to her active duty service and has been granted as a result.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating effective July 25, 2017. The other conditions have had their ratings adjusted or granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to service or secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate ratings for his lower extremity radiculopathies were denied. The Veteran's PTSD, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy were all rated as 10 percent disabling or higher.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for anxiety disorder, service connection for a low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's back and cervical spine disabilities have been granted a rating of 20 percent from September 11, 2008, to September 30, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened on April 13, 2015, and effective as of that date, he was granted service connection for PTSD, TBI, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of fracture of tooth #10.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for further examination. The Veteran's claims include neck, left knee, low back, bilateral foot, foot rash, sinus/allergy, and lung disabilities.