Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis with lung calcification and granuloma is granted effective as of May 27, 2015. The issue of evaluation of degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was erroneously added to a supplemental statement of the case and dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding medical records and potential TERA exposure. The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which require additional examination.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the issues of increased evaluations and TDIU due to service-connected spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease. The Veteran will be provided a VA examination, and his entitlement to TDIU will also be considered.

Your initial ratings for your low back disability, sciatic radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities have been remanded.,Your claims for service connection for a right elbow disability, right wrist disability, and disability of the fourth digit of the right hand have also been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include anxiety and depression, have been reopened. The claim for service connection for a back disability, restless leg syndrome (left leg), and restless leg syndrome (right leg) is remanded. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and an addendum evaluation of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for back disability, including scoliosis. The Veteran's representative contends that the claim should be more broadly construed to include other back disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a spine disability, including both thoracolumbar and cervical strain conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased rating of PTSD, service connection for back disability, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board dismissed these claims as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been reopened, but the Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to substantiate these claims.,Service connection is denied for hypoglycemia. The Veteran's back condition, fibromyalgia, GERD, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, migraines, and scoliosis are all remanded for further review.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain with minimal L5/S1 retrolisthesis is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as secondary service connection for bilateral leg and hand disabilities.,There is no evidence of a chronic disability related to the Veteran's in-service fall injury.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 17, 2007 for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,An initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for an acquired psychiatric disability characterized as insomnia disorder with non-sleep disorder, mental comorbidity, and medical comorbidity, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral hands is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a back disability characterized as degenerative disc disease and stenosis of the lumbar spine, status post lumbosacral strain, is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not granted.

The appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were dismissed. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine and right elbow disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing clarifying opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's application for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied. The claims for service connection for bilateral fingers crush injury residuals, thoracolumbar spine disorder, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, kidney disease, urinary incontinence, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied. Service connection for hypertension was granted based on the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and incorrect dates of service. The Veteran's STRs need to be verified, and a search should be conducted for legible copies of his service treatment records.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for status post fracture of the lumbar spine with severe lower extremity weakness is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The Board granted service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine and IVDS.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him substantially confined to his dwelling, the immediate premises, a ward or clinical area of an institution due to a service-connected condition. He does not have one disability that is rated as totally disabling and an additional disability or disabilities that are independently rated or ratable as at least 60 percent disabling.