Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, left arm radiculopathy, and low back disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further medical development regarding his right hip disability and increased ratings for his lumbar spine and radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the current condition is not related to service or any service-connected disability.

The VA has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for thoracolumbar spondylosis with intervertebral disc syndrome due to new evidence received since the last review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back injury with degenerative disc disease and right foot arthritis due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve are all granted with specific ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board also found that the Veteran had not raised any other issues, nor have any other issues been reasonably raised by the record.

The Veteran's cervical spine, thoracic and lumbar spine, migraine headaches associated with TBI, and C-section scar disabilities have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a 50% rating for migraines associated with TBI, but the C-section scar remains at noncompensable.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claims of service connection for bladder condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's right knee disability and skin condition are denied as there is no current diagnosis or history of these conditions.,Service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, depression, joint disease of the left knee, and obstructive lung disease remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and low back disability for further processing under the legacy appeal system.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a temporary total evaluation are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, additional private medical records, and a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected right posterior thigh disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the claim.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the period of July 21, 2016, to June 28, 2017, and after May 22, 2023, for mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes in the lumbar spine. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn all appealed issues from the legacy appeal system, and they are now dismissed.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted, with an effective date from June 11, 2014.,Service connection is established for left and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and inextricably intertwined with other claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability is denied. The Board finds that the evidence of record does not support a finding of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from side, which would warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck conditions are remanded as there were insufficient opinions regarding whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, sleep apnea, and left knee disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the left knee rating issues.