Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's chronic low back pain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral foot conditions are granted. The lung condition (including asthma and bronchitis) is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is rated at 20 percent prior to September 9, 2020 and 20 percent thereafter. The rating for GERD remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various shoulder, knee, and thumb disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating more than 20 percent for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder under treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. chapter 17 was denied due to the lack of evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.,Service connection for PTSD was also denied as there was no new and relevant evidence presented.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided were inadequate and remands the cases for new VA medical opinions to determine if the appellant's knee disabilities, spinal stenosis lumbar spine, and cervical spine are related to service. The combat presumption is applicable due to the appellant's military decorations.

The appeal seeking service connection for lumbar spine pain is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to bilateral leg condition, bilateral foot condition, nerve damage (non-specific), and lumbar strain should be remanded due to missing National Guard service treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of arthritis was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period.,The Board also denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, concluding that there is no evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's current strain diagnosis and her active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, and irritable bowel syndrome related to lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has granted the readjudication of the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, but denied the claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and breathing condition.

The Veteran's headaches have been granted service connection, but his right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, as well as cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the VA decision of February 2020 is not final and remands the cases for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic headaches, lumbar spine disability, sleep apnea, right ankle pain, and facial-skin irritation have been granted.,Reasonable doubt has resolved in favor of the Veteran on all issues.

The Veteran's disability ratings for low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been reduced from 40% and 10%, respectively, to 20% and 0%. The reduction was based on improvements shown in recent VA examinations.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the development of the Veteran's claims prior to the February 2025 decision, and thus these cases are being remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to an in-service injury during a drill weekend in 1984. The benefit of doubt was resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his acquired psychiatric, cervical spine, lumbar spine, right thumb, right index finger, and right long finger disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted an initial 40 percent rating from May 14, 2012 to December 25, 2019.,From December 26, 2019, forward, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating was denied.

Your earlier effective date for a 40% disability rating for your service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, status-post discectomy has been granted. The appeal is dismissed as the relief sought has already been provided.

The Board has granted service connection for the lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities with effective dates of December 22, 2022. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied.