Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of right shoulder, left shoulder, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for stroke residuals, blood clots, memory loss, and headaches. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for various disorders are remanded.

The petition to reopen the previously disallowed claims for low back disability and depression is granted. The issues of service connection for intervertebral foramina, non-specific osteoarthritis, lumbar post-laminectomy syndrome, connective tissue disc stenosis, abdominal pain, GERD, chronic pancreatitis, foot pain, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder and MDD), suicidal thoughts, insomnia, and tobacco use disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines and lumbosacral strain did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 17, 2020. Therefore, the claim for TDIU was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of STRs, which are unavailable. The VA examinations obtained in September 2023 did not adequately address the Veteran's contentions regarding his reported in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability and remanded his claim for residuals of a fractured nose.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with strain, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hips and knees are granted.,Service connection is also granted for left hip degenerative arthritis, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and right hip degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, but the issues regarding his back condition and headaches have been remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, low back disability, and high blood pressure. The Board found no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his chronic low back strain is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back injury due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, back disability, bilateral foot disability, and chest pain are all found to have originated during service. The claims for these conditions are granted.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease with low back strain prior to July 19, 2016. A TDIU was also granted from July 2, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, back disorder, neck disorder, right leg disorder, and left leg disorder are all considered.,Service connection has not been established for any of the conditions listed above.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tension headaches, lower back disability, and PCOS due to inadequate medical opinions and a duty to assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to missed VA examinations. The Veteran will need to be contacted by the RO to confirm his availability for these exams.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a separate rating for limitation of flexion prior to March 29, 2023 and for a higher rating for limitation of flexion beginning March 29, 2023. The claim for eligibility for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment was granted.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), a cervical spine disability, a thoracolumbar spine disability, a right knee disability, a left foot disability, and a right foot disability should be remanded due to an error in docketing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, left hip disability, and right forearm injury due to lack of evidence showing a chronic disability in service or otherwise etiologically linked to an in-service injury.