Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection were continuously appealed in the Legacy system since 2015, but he did not properly opt-in his concurrent Legacy appeal to the AMA system. As a result, he cannot utilize the effective date from the Legacy appeal stream.,The Board finds that AMA regulations do not permit the Veteran to utilize the September 2015 application date from the concurrent Legacy appeal stream.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent hip, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to potential pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including TBI, vertigo, sleep apnea, and neurological impairment of the upper and lower extremities due to cold exposure, have been dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran does not have these conditions or their claimed causes.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim was denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's thoracic back condition claim was denied due to lack of in-service injury and insufficient continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination reports and a need for further medical opinion regarding whether the lumbar spine disability is caused, aggravated, or would not have occurred but for service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for residuals of postoperative right knee lateral collateral ligament strain remains at 10 percent, while other conditions are either not granted or remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 30 degrees or less, which would be required for a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is related to his military service and has been granted. The claims for chronic bronchitis and low back disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need to obtain her Reserve service records and provide TERA opinions regarding certain conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to lack of evidence of current disability or related pain, and no injury or manifestation in service.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's lumbar spine disability, finding that it was aggravated by subsequent reserve service.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which includes degenerative disc disease (DDD), is granted a 40 percent rating from January 27, 2012 to November 27, 2020. The decision also notes that there is no evidence of ankylosis or the functional equivalent of ankylosis at any time during this period.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event related to the claimed female sexual arousal, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for the right leg disability, left leg disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability is denied due to lack of an in-service disease or injury.,The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities are not granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for a TDIU are not met.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been granted a 40% rating, effective December 17, 2020.,Bladder dysfunction and irritable bladder syndrome have been granted a 60% rating from December 17, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from December 2019 to March 5, 2020. As of March 5, 2020, the Veteran received a combined total rating of 100%, making the TDIU issue moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, TBI, and headaches. The evidence did not support finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.