Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted from December 28, 2017, based on his service-connected lower back disability and radiculopathy. The effective date is retroactively applied due to the nature of the claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed because it has been granted in the March 2024 rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for back condition is dismissed because it has been granted in the April 2024 rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle is dismissed because it has been granted in the April 2024 rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and new claims, including the Veteran's contention of back pain in service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings were dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and denied a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's low back condition is currently rated at 10 percent, effective October 19, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as radiculopathy in multiple extremities, are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, lumbar spine disability, and right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines as secondary to major depressive disorder and lumbosacral strain as secondary to status post left knee torn ACL and MCL tears with surgical reconstruction with residual patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant the readjudication of your claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, shin splints, and diabetes mellitus. Your tailbone condition is denied.

An effective date of December 8, 2009 is granted for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine.,An effective date of December 5, 2017 is granted for the grant of service connection for sciatica of right lower extremity.,No earlier effective date is granted for the grant of service connection for sciatica of left lower extremity.

The Veteran's back disability is granted service connection. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as not related to active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition and associated lumbar radiculopathy, LLE. The claim for service connection for headaches disorder is remanded due to a lack of consideration of whether it is related to the cervical spine disability.,The Veteran's sinusitis disorder claim is also remanded as the VA examiner did not address his current symptoms or provide an opinion on whether they constitute chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and peripheral neuropathy of the upper radicular group of the right upper extremity were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.,Initial compensable ratings were denied for peripheral neuropathy of the lower radicular group of the left upper extremity and middle radicular group of the left upper extremity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of right shoulder, left hip, or right knee disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because they died during the pendency of their appeals for service connection for a back disability and dental condition.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple claims for service connection, including cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, headaches, ear, nose and throat (ENT) disability, hypertension, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities. The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain relevant medical records and seek expert opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lumbar strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since August 1, 2019.

The Veteran requires assistance in accomplishing daily activities and is unable to protect himself from hazards due to his service-connected conditions, including PTSD with major depressive disorder, postoperative residuals of bowel injury, back condition, abdominal scars, radiculopathy, hernia, and a scar. SMC based on the regular need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with stenosis from August 6, 2014 to April 19, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, low back disability, knee strains, shoulder strain, elbow condition, eye disability, GERD, and anxiety, were granted effective December 18, 2020.