Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot disability, right foot disability, back disability, and heart condition. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability remains pending as the evidence is not sufficient to establish a direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed. The appeals for right hand, left shoulder, right knee, and bilateral plantar fasciitis disabilities have all been denied. The appeal for low back and left knee disabilities is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, ankle, lumbar spine, and chest conditions due to lack of new and relevant evidence submitted within one year of the prior final denial.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the amended regulations.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was denied due to the noncompensable disability ratings assigned based on audiometric test results.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that there is reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and concluding that his current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including a low back disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, headaches, and neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, has been granted based on new evidence suggesting these disabilities are related to service exposure at Camp Lejeune.,A skin disability claim was also reopened.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy are being remanded due to procedural errors in the initial decision. The AOJ must provide a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's disabilities and clarify the interpretation of terms used in the relevant diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased ratings of 40 percent each, effective from the date of the May 2020 rating decision. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder) and endometriosis/frozen feet have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions have been remanded multiple times, and as a result, the appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed as the claims have been fully granted with effective dates assigned.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) due to weight gain caused by her service-connected cervical degenerative disc disease, lumbar facet arthrosis, left knee disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision resolves all reasonable doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's neck disability, diagnosed as cervical degenerative disc disease and cervical loss of disc height, is granted. The right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, back disability (lumbar degenerative disc disease, multi-level spondylolisthesis, lumbar loss of disc height, and lumbar degenerative scoliosis), right knee osteoarthritis status post ACL tear repair, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee scar are all granted.,The Veteran's neck disability is linked to his service in the United States Navy, including high impact repetitive activities like running, jumping, squatting, and leaning forward with head down for use of scope. The back disability is related to his years of duty serving in the Navy, as well.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his back condition, including intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and residuals of lumbar microdiscectomies with degenerative disc disease (DDD), facet arthrosis, and bilateral neural foraminal stenosis, was denied. The Veteran also had service connection granted for PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in the December 2020 VA examination, and it is requested that a new VA examination be conducted.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of December 3, 2018 for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and tension headaches. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings or additional disabilities are remanded due to incomplete evidence.

The Board has decided that service connection is granted for fibromyalgia and tinnitus. The remaining claims of service connection for a back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and cervical cancer are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the service connection for lumbosacral strain, left and right knee conditions, and left and right eye conditions in May 2024.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability was dismissed. The Board granted initial 20 percent ratings, but no higher, for right and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 4, 2020, for the award of increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities. The appeal is also remanded to obtain private treatment records from Dr. J.D.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lung disability, and a stomach disability. The low back disability claim is remanded.