Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of cervical spine disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, lumbar disorder, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted a rating of 20 percent, PTSD, MDD, and GAD are granted service connection, and sleep apnea is also granted. The right leg (knee), neck, and right ankle disorders remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, and a spinal disability due to outstanding records and the need for medical opinions.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been received to readjudicate the Veteran's service connection claims for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. As such, these claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the VA Form 9 was timely filed in response to the March 27, 2017 Statement of the Case and therefore reinstates the underlying appeal for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic upper back condition and chronic lower back condition, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not incurred during his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and denied an increased rating for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability. The left ankle sprain is found to be related to service, while the back disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted, and he received a 40% disability rating for his lumbar strain starting from June 9, 2020. His left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) was granted a 20% disability rating effective from June 9, 2020. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) received a 20% disability rating as well.

The Board denied service connection for RLE radiculopathy and lumbar spine disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and low back arthritis are all granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology during or shortly after service.

The Veteran's left hip disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome.,Obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and cervical spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for episodic lumbosacral strain with right side sciatica, bilateral hearing loss, and a compensable disability rating for tinea versicolor effective October 1, 2001. The December 2020 document was not considered a valid decision by VA.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for mild obstructive sleep apnea and a lumbar strain have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,Service connection for low back pain and dysfunction is also denied due to lack of credible evidence linking the condition to active duty. The Veteran did not report recurrent back pain during his separation examination, and there are no contemporaneous medical records indicating treatment for this issue.,The Veteran's PTSD claim has been granted with a 50% rating since February 10, 2020. The Board found that the symptoms associated with PTSD more closely approximate those of a 70% disability rating.

Your service connection claims for low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and sleep apnea have already been fully granted in previous decisions. Therefore, there are no remaining issues to be decided by the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted. The housebound rate is moot as the SMC based on aid and attendance is a greater benefit.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss is denied due to the audiometric findings not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for anxiety is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be related to current symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disorder were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for back condition with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, nerve damage to right lower extremity, left upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right upper extremity.

The Board has restored a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lower back disability effective June 1, 2020. The claim for a higher rating is denied.