Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, left shoulder strain, and right ankle strain. The denial is based on a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during or were caused by his active service.,The Veteran was not diagnosed with any of these conditions until years after separation from service, and there is no medical evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable rating for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for restrictive lung disease, as his FEV-1 was within the range of 71 to 80 percent predicted.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his hearing request and the Board may only consider evidence up to 90 days prior to withdrawal.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or neurological abnormalities. The evidence showed functional loss but no additional limitation beyond what is already reflected in the current 10% rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it was not timely filed and the issue of an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis had already been decided by a final Board decision.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for several issues, including increased evaluations and service connection claims. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 23, 2015 for the appellant's service connection claims for a back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,Prior to this decision, the earliest claim received by VA was on August 7, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, and sinusitis due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability remains denied because the evidence submitted is not new and relevant.

The Veteran's service connection claim for lumbar strain was denied. The Board found no nexus between the in-service injury and current disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied, as the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, and flat foot are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board finds the provided examinations insufficient to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis as secondary to her service-connected bilateral trochanteric pain syndrome with bursitis and osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include unspecified depressive disorder. The claim for low back strain is remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee conditions. The Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to duty-to-assist errors and will consider any new evidence in its decision.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for various cervical, shoulder, and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the case for an addendum VA opinion regarding the Veteran's low back condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by his service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spurs, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other conditions. As such, the claim for service connection for OSA is granted.