Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease was granted. The compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The prostate cancer claim is being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, remanded the claims for lower back condition and asthma due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD, a lower back disability other than lumbosacral strain, and an increased evaluation of lumbosacral strain due to new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's GERD, lumbosacral strain, left hip iliopsoas tendinitis, right hip osteoarthritis and iliopsoas tendinitis, left knee condition to include tendonitis/tendinosis, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence collection.,Specifically, the VA needs to clarify whether the Veteran's back pain, ankle sprains, and hand injury are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, vision, and bilateral knee disabilities have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis disabilities has been denied.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for lower back disorder, including degenerative arthritis, status post-laminectomy, and right ankle peroneal tendonitis. The appeals are granted to those extents. Service connection is not established for either condition.

All issues of service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to improper appeal or untimely submission.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining proper authorizations for private treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's wrist disability. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ruptured eardrum, back disability, right knee disability, gout and/or pseudogout/CPPD, left foot disability, osteophytosis of the thumb/metacarpal surgery, wrist disability, eye/vision disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and missing service records. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed for possible service connection.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety is rated at 50 percent, which the Board finds insufficient to warrant a higher rating. The lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with status post lumbar spondylolisthesis with surgical fusion of L5-S1 is also rated at 50 percent and similarly does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, right knee condition, and right ankle sprain to obtain new opinions. The claim for scar left eye/cheek is denied as no new relevant evidence was submitted.

The Board revised the October 2023 decision to grant an effective date of April 13, 1987, for the award of service connection for a back disability due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has granted service connection for scars of the right forehead, left lateral eye, and right upper lip. The acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of head injury, headaches, bilateral eye disability, and low back disorder are all denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and osteoporosis due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome from June 6, 2008 is being remanded due to the failure to substantially comply with previous Board directives.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical degenerative disc disease was granted prior to July 21, 2008, and the claim for service connection for a low back disability was remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, stab wound residuals, and left upper lumbar paraspinal wound with tender scar, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board found that his service-connected conditions prevented him from performing the physical tasks required for a security guard position.