Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for L5-S1 lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.,Service connection for hearing loss was denied because there is no indication of its manifestation within one year of service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the ratings for left knee conditions and back pain, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his low back disability and for a compensable rating for his left lower extremity radiculopathy due to conflicting evidence from VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination addressing any mid/lower back disability, and the need for further evidence regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and if so, whether it would have occurred without the aggravation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several knee and lower extremity conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome and a back disability with sciatica due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic bronchitis, lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disability, allergic sinusitis, and left ischial tuberosity bursitis as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back condition. The examiner's opinion is found to be insufficient and requires further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for chronic fatigue, cervical spine disability, low back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and left hip disability due to potential exposure to burn pits during active duty in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of January 12, 2019 for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with lumbosacral and thoracic strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is not causally related to his service-connected disabilities, but may have been aggravated by them. The Board also found that obesity, which may be linked to his service-connected disabilities, was a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea. As such, the issue must be remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back condition is denied, and his PTSD rating is granted at 50 percent effective from December 13, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back condition is being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his acquired psychiatric condition is being remanded as the proper effective date is based on when the condition arose, not when he filed his initial claim.

The Board has restored service connection for status post lumbar compression fracture surgery and the secondary radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to clear error in the original decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective April 15, 2022 due to his service-connected lumbar spine and psychiatric disabilities preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding records and medical opinions needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and provide an opinion on the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for deviated nasal septum.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral sprain and degenerative disc disease (back disability) as well as cervical strain (neck disability), finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active-duty service, including his military flight time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and missing records. The issues include left ankle, left elbow, low back, migraines, and left shoulder disabilities, as well as residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).