Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's effective dates for Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status are denied as they do not meet the criteria set forth in the applicable regulations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for hypertension, a left knee disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, and headaches. The appeals are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn her appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back condition, upper back condition, right knee condition, and headaches. The decision is based on the Veteran's subjective reports of symptoms during service and continuity since service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed for possible aggravation by VA treatment, including a delay in surgery from approximately 2003 to 2006.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and requests for private provider records. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are still under review.

The Veteran's left wrist strain and right ankle sprain are not rated higher than 10 percent.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied, as the Veteran does not have a present hearing disability for VA purposes.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file.,Service connection for right knee strain is remanded due to inadequate opinion from the 2014 VA examination.,Service connection for hemorrhoids is not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and an upper gastrointestinal disorder, finding that the current conditions are not related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn all appeals, including those for disability ratings and service connection. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative lumbar spine and cervical spine conditions, finding that the current disabilities are related to in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, and his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are caused by his service-connected back disability.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are at least as likely as not due to his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for GERD, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The VA medical opinions provided negative nexus opinions, concluding that the disabilities were not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional adjudication due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his service. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted as presumptively due to exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The issues regarding obstructive sleep apnea and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with IVDS are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided were inadequate for the claims of service connection for various knee, ankle, lumbar spine, sleep apnea, and hearing loss disabilities. The Veteran's conditions are being remanded to allow for additional development.

The Board has determined that the VA did not obtain necessary medical opinions as requested in prior remands and thus, another remand is needed to address the service connection claims for various orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of right ring finger disability, service connection for cervical spine/upper back disability, and low back disability are remanded due to failure to reschedule VA examinations.

The Veteran's low back disability has not been manifested by unfavorable ankylosis or acute signs and symptoms due to IVDS that require bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician for at least six weeks in a 12-month period.,The Veteran's right lower extremity neurological signs and symptoms are due to nonservice-connected diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes); he does not have symptoms attributable to sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with his low back disability that have caused more than mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve prior to April 16, 2013, or more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve since that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity neurological symptoms are due to nonservice-connected diabetes; he does not have symptoms attributable to sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with his low back disability that have caused more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine are granted. The left knee condition, right knee condition, and chronic headache disability are denied.