Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted a 20% rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease since April 5, 2018. The claim for service connection for fibromyalgia is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder strain and lower back condition due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records from the Veteran's private physician and readjudicating the increased rating claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and TMJ disabilities due to inadequate examinations and missing medical records.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle condition, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to her in-service injury.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for Lyme disease and remanded all associated issues due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted an increased rating of 40 percent effective June 2, 2011. The right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted a 20 percent rating effective October 11, 2021. Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability is also granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and a right shoulder condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or event related to these conditions.,Service connection was not granted as the medical opinions provided did not support a link between the current disabilities and active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a hernia due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service.,The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and right shoulder disability for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, right knee, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected injuries.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to withdraw his claim for a higher rating for left knee revision total knee arthroplasty. The Veteran was also granted entitlement to TDIU due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities preventing him from maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine were incurred in or caused by active service, and have continued to the present. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a 30 percent disability rating for GERD with IBS, effective from June 4, 2018. The low back disability issue was rendered moot by the grant of service connection.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period prior to August 9, 2016. For the period between August 9, 2016 and October 1, 2017, the weight of evidence did not support a finding that any other service-connected disability prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service record shows he served for less than the required 180 days, and his discharge was not due to a service-connected disability. The decision is remanded to obtain missing service records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address whether his low back disability and headache disorder are related to his service-connected right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and/or bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again for service connection, with a focus on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and osteochondral injury, as well as lumbosacral strain with fusion, have been granted service connection.,Left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted service connection based on their relationship to the service-connected low back disability. The unspecified depressive disorder is granted service connection due to its secondary nature to the Veteran's other disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), headache disorder, left leg pain, tingling in the left foot, low back disorder, bilateral foot swelling, and sinus disorder.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease leading to current disabilities.