Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted.,Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected headaches is denied. The Veteran's headaches are not manifested by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various shoulder and cervical spine conditions as they have been granted within a prior rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbosacral strain disability is related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis, low back stiffness, left hip condition, neck injury, and bilateral knee disability. The evidence is nearly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset during the Veteran's active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ is instructed to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disorders, and to consider referral for extraschedular TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The claims for anxiety disorder, left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain are remanded.

The Veteran's pinguecula and thoracolumbar spine disability are granted service connection, while his migraine, right knee disability, cervical spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are granted. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, which is currently considered a direct service connection claim.

The Veteran's service-connected low back pain and major depression cause him to require the regular aid and attendance of another for activities such as dressing, bathing, cooking, traveling, and managing medication.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the decision-making process and requires additional examinations to determine if service connection can be granted for various conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound, as his conditions allow for some mobility and he is able to perform many daily activities with assistance.

The Board has found that service connection for tension headaches is granted. The claim of service connection for a back disability is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to a deviated septum. The low back condition claim is remanded.

The Board found that the reduction of ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, right knee arthritis with limited painful extension, and left knee limitation of flexion was proper. The Veteran's overall combined rating has not changed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, leg, and low back conditions due to cold injury have been denied. Effective dates earlier than January 7, 2021, for the award of service connection for frostbite (first degree) with neuropathy in both feet are also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, low back disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's conditions were found to have worsened during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability increased in severity during active duty service and if so, whether it was clearly and unmistakably due to the natural progress of the disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbosacral strain due to an alleged secondary service connection based on an altered gait from a right ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that his symptoms began during his period of active service deemed as bad conduct and therefore not eligible for benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and for providing opinions on secondary service connection.