Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than December 13, 2017, for the awards of service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis with strain and residuals of fractured coccyx was denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating greater than 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with strain and residuals of fractured coccyx is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for toenail fungus was denied. The Board found no evidence of toenail fungus during service and insufficient medical evidence to establish a relationship between the condition and service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis (multiple joints, to include shoulders), and lumbosacral strain due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's claim for lumbosacral strain is remanded as there are outstanding private treatment records that have not been associated with his claims file.,The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis (multiple joints, to include shoulders), and lumbosacral strain due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's claim for lumbosacral strain is remanded as there are outstanding private treatment records that have not been associated with his claims file.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to errors in notice and duty to assist.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, but the claims for left and right knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent left wrist sprain residuals are service-connected. The remaining issues of service connection for various other disabilities have been remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis as there is no persuasive evidence of their onset during active service or a relationship to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded two issues: a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for a back disability secondary to service-connected shoulder disabilities. The Veteran needs to undergo new examinations to determine the current severity of his left ear hearing loss and the etiology of his back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain, lumbosacral degenerative disc and joint disease and L3-L4 central spinal canal narrowing, left lower femoral radiculopathy, left lower sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower sciatic radiculopathy due to inconsistencies in the VA examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed as the issues are moot due to a prior grant of benefits in May 2023, and there was an improper concurrent election of multiple review options.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability with arthritis, lumbar spine disability with arthritis, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity due to inadequate opinions in the May 2023 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for a lumbosacral or cervical strain disorder due to insufficient evidence and the need for an examination.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the claim for service connection for lumbosacral and thoracic spine strain with arthritis, stenosis, and scoliosis. The case is remanded for further review.

The Board has found that there is no current disability related to the Veteran's in-service left thigh injury, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The remaining claims of service connection for a left knee condition, a left shin condition, and a lower back condition are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20 percent disability rating for low back disability is granted, while the claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent remains denied.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's current low back disability and her active duty service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease/arthritis of the back and neck due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran contends that his conditions are related to in-service events, including carrying heavy packs and parachuting.

The Board has denied service connection for sickle cell anemia and remanded the remaining claims due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right shoulder, back, and knee disabilities are also being remanded for further development.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The appeal to reduce the rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome from 40 percent to 20 percent is dismissed as no reduction has been effectuated.