Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there is no medical evidence to support a link between his service-connected disabilities and his current back disorder. The Board also found that obesity, which may have contributed to his weight gain, was not a substantial factor in causing or aggravating his back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and related benefits were denied. The Board found that the earliest date on which the awards of service connection could be effectuated was March 9, 2023.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for fatigue condition, back condition, right shoulder condition, right elbow condition, and right knee condition.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his tension headaches is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim due to a duty to assist error regarding psychiatric disorders related to service-connected disabilities. The appellant contends that the Veteran's death was caused by his military service and/or his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for jock itch (tinea cruris) has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence.,Service connection for left-sided and right-sided hernias, pseudo folliculitis of the face, pseudo folliculitis of the neck, lumbar spine disability, sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia of the lower extremities, left foot bunion, right foot bunion, toenail fungus and tinea pedis, left foot pes planus, right foot pes planus, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, osteoarthritis of the hips, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability has also been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's service treatment records are silent regarding any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions. Post-service medical records do not provide evidence of current diagnoses for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and denied in 2017, but the effective date of July 2, 2021 was granted for all conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for abdominal pain, dysuria, a back disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy/sciatica. Service connection for vision disability is denied.

The Veteran's TBI with PTSD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent effective May 6, 2021. The other conditions were denied.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her lumbar and thoracic spine condition and service connection for thrombosis, TIA, or cerebral infarction (claimed as cerebral accident) to include as secondary to her traumatic brain injury are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions at the time of the May 2022 decision.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left shoulder disability, and residuals of rib fracture. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.,The right testicular torsion claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted during the relevant periods on appeal are inadequate and lack certain information for the Board to make a fully informed decision as to the severity of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain. The claim is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right arm disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and headaches. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and potential PACT Act exposure issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and right ankle disabilities are rated based on limitation of motion. The Board found the criteria for higher ratings were not met.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to the cumulative effects of his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

Effective dates of November 7, 2013, are granted for service connection of lumbar degenerative disc disease and right shoulder osteoarthritis. Service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve dysfunction is denied prior to May 26, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, OSA, and a back disability due to insufficient evidence and duty to assist errors.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.