Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations addressing their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, chronic sinusitis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and radiculopathy. The Veteran's current diagnoses of arthritis of the back and chronic sinusitis are not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity neurological disability, degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to these conditions. The decision is based on evidence showing current diagnoses and a causal relationship.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the weight gain and obesity resulting from the service-connected condition served as an intermediate step in the development of the current sleep apnea disability.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that it was incurred during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back conditions due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims will be reviewed again with new opinions provided by appropriate clinicians.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for degenerative arthritis with strain of the lumbosacral spine and sleep apnea with sleep disturbances were dismissed because he did not timely file a VA Form 10182 and good cause was not shown.

The appeal for attorney fees based on the December 2020 rating decision is dismissed as moot because the full amount of withheld fees has been paid.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disorder, finding no evidence that it is related to service or his service-connected left sciatic nerve involvement associated with post-herpetic pain syndrome.

The Veteran's neck disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 26, 2015 and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's neck disability was rated at 20 percent from September 1, 2015 and denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition is granted a 20% rating, and service connection for his back disability is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia due to submission of new and relevant evidence. The remaining issues are remanded for further review.

Service connection has been granted for sinusitis, head injury (traumatic brain injury), neck disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, and sleep apnea.,The Veteran's conditions are all found to be related to service.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The appeals for left knee injury, lumbar back pain, bilateral burn scars, and sleep apnea have been dismissed. The appeal of post-traumatic stress disorder is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and psychiatric disability. The evidence did not support the presence of current disabilities or a link to active service.

The Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee strain, and right knee scars were granted effective June 13, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including anxiety disorder, lumbosacral strain, cervical spine, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted SMC based on this need.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's service dates and status during periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The claim will be reconsidered with this additional information.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disorder, diagnosed as lumbar degenerative arthritis, finding that it is due to military service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.