Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating and service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, requiring additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective October 19, 2021.

The Board remands the claim for a neck disability to obtain an addendum VA opinion addressing the holdings in Spicer and Saunders.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to her service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip conditions. The appeal for an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left forearm scar is remanded. Service connection for stomach condition (to include acid reflux) is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back condition due to an inadequate VA examination and failure to obtain relevant Social Security Administration records. The case is returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's disability ratings for migraine, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), epilepsy with recurrent seizures, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), lumbosacral strain, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome were improperly reduced to noncompensable effective January 1, 2023. The ratings are restored.

The Board has granted effective dates of May 4, 2021 for the grants of service connection for anxiety disorder, back disability (Thoracolumbar Spine), right hand strain, left hand strain, sciatica right lower extremity, and sciatica left lower extremity. The Veteran's increased evaluation for his left shoulder disability is also granted as of May 4, 2021.

The Veteran's disability rating for his back condition was reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective May 27, 2022. The reduction is now reinstated.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back disability, right foot drop, and LLE radiculopathy due to inadequate opinions in the original decision. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to a duty-to-assist error in prior decisions.

The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors in the prior decision and remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pelvic floor dysfunction and drug induced constipation have been dismissed. An initial 40 percent rating has been granted for his low back disability, but the claim is denied for higher ratings prior to July 22, 2022, and from that date onwards. The right hip disability claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the February and March 2022 VA examinations. The RO must schedule new examinations and obtain adequate opinions regarding the severity of pseudofolliculitis barbae, as well as the etiology of erectile dysfunction, low back disorder, and left hip disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for left and right carpel tunnel syndrome, specific phobia (anxiety, fear of flying), and skin condition (Xerosis cutis) have been denied. The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral upper extremity nerve disabilities and a back disability due to a lack of medical nexus opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's alcohol, cocaine, and opioid use disorders (in remission) are granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative changes. Effective July 9, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, keratosis pilaris with folliculitis, respiratory disorder, and low back disorder due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,New and relevant evidence was not received for the claims of service connection for a left or right knee disorder.