Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hand arthritis and left hand arthritis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for lumbar spine arthritis and right lower extremity sciatica have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

New relevant evidence has been received, granting service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and right ankle disorder.,Service connection is denied for a cervical spine disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss are denied. The claim for right ear hearing loss is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right hip, right knee, and/or right ankle disabilities. The AOJ is also requested to ensure that the VA examiner's medical opinions are supported by complete explanatory rationales based on the examiner's medical expertise and clinical experience.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his service-connected lumbar disc disease was denied, resulting in the denial of attorney fees from past-due benefits awarded in June 2024.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, bilateral foot disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a sleep disorder. The Veteran's claimed conditions are not found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition, including thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease other than IVDS. The decision finds that the Veteran's current disability is causally related to his military service due to an accident during training in 1963.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in loss of use of both feet, which qualifies her for an allowance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board denied the appellant's request for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in an August 2024 rating decision, as the decision was not a result of a valid appeal and did not address all issues raised.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease with lumbosacral strain and scoliosis, previously claimed as spinal arthritis, and left-side mallet finger were denied. The evidence submitted was found to be new but not relevant to the claim.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted with an effective date of March 15, 2017.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral pes planus (claimed as flatfoot) are denied. The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinea pedis (athlete's foot) and lumbosacral strain are remanded.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for cervical strain is April 4, 2005. Ratings for PTSD, cervical strain, vertebral fracture and lumbar discectomy, and IBS are all denied or not granted as requested.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability is remanded due to inadequate consideration of the ameliorative effects of medication on the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for dermatitis/eczema, sleep apnea, a psychiatric disorder (including MDD and PTSD), hypertension, COPD, low back disorder, and prostate cancer are all granted. The Board found that the evidence supported these determinations based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 2, 2015, for TDIU was denied as the evidence did not show actual worsening within one year prior to his March 2, 2015, claim.