Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board remanded the claims for readjudication and further development, as new and relevant evidence had been submitted since the prior denials.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a higher than 10 percent rating for bilateral foot porokeratosis in soles, metatarsalgia both feet. The claims for service connection for various disabilities were remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation starting November 1, 2013. Effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits are set to November 1, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a back disability, and ED. The decision also remanded the issue of increased rating for unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for somatic symptom disorder is denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbar spine DDD, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and gastritis are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for gastritis is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, right wrist, and left wrist disabilities due to the absence of current diagnoses during the relevant evidentiary window. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded for further development, as was the back disability claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the feet, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, diabetes, gout, and hypertension due to potential exposure to hazardous noise, chemicals, or other substances during service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased evaluations of thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spondylosis and lumbar strain, left hip strain - limitation of flexion, left hip strain - limitation of extension, and left hip strain, impairment of thigh are all denied as there is no evidence showing worsening in the Veteran's conditions prior to the effective dates assigned.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased evaluations of thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spondylosis and lumbar strain, left hip strain - limitation of flexion, left hip strain - limitation of extension, and left hip strain, impairment of thigh are all denied as there is no evidence showing worsening in the Veteran's conditions prior to the effective dates assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability related to military service.,The reduction in rating from 10 percent to noncompensable for right lower extremity radiculopathy was improper and the 10 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's appeal of the proposed reduction in his disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, anterolisthesis and anteriorthoracic compression fractures, and mild levoconvex scoliosis from 40 to 20 percent is dismissed. The appeal of his claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is also dismissed as he was granted this benefit in a September 2024 supplemental claim rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis lumbosacral spine as the evidence did not support a finding that it was related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbar spine strain, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back condition have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support a finding that the conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back and right shoulder disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The VA opinions obtained in January 2021 were deemed inadequate as they did not address direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood; degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine; and/or status post balloon dilation with mild dysphagia, including obesity as an intermediate step. As such, the claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety) is denied.

The Board has reinstated the Veteran's lumbosacral strain rating from 40% to 20%, effective September 1, 2022. The reduction was not proper due to a failure to show actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service connected. The left ankle strain is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records of the Veteran's Reserve service, which were not obtained. The Veteran contends his migraines, neck condition, and lumbar spine condition are related to a motor vehicle accident in 1983 during reserve training.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.