Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right ankle disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been denied. The evidence does not establish that the current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection to hypertension is denied. The claims for increased ratings of anxiety disorder, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, low back disorder, and right knee disorder are all remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.,The Board also denied service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to support a link between current foot issues and active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and further review of the claims, including those related to effective dates.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of June 28, 2012, for the grant of a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and intervertebral disc syndrome has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal regarding the right elbow and left elbow disabilities is remanded.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and scarring are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for OSA and a low back disorder. The claim of left ankle achilles tendonitis remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for hernia, psychiatric disability (anxiety and depression), low back condition, head injury residuals, migraine headaches, left knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,An effective date earlier than January 10, 2017, is denied for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the opinions provided regarding the Veteran's lumbar strain and joint and muscle pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and left knee strain have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's range of motion did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened, and the Board has remanded this issue. The initial rating for jaw fracture with TMJ is granted at 40 percent. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disabilities and associated radiculopathy is being remanded due to procedural defects and the need for a retrospective medical assessment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence received after the last AOJ action in October 2020. The Veteran and their representative are required to be provided a supplemental statement of the case addressing the issues of increased ratings for left knee extension, flexion, and instability, as well as service connection for right knee and lower back disorders.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear and chondromalacia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and back disabilities, as well as his PFB and bilateral hearing loss have been REMANDED due to the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's scars from vein stripping are not rated higher than their current levels.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding higher ratings for degenerative lumbar spine disease, radiculopathy in the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy in the left lower extremity. The appeal for TDIU was also dismissed.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for a skin disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left foot disability, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his knee, hip, shoulder, and lumbar conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.