Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an initial increased rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn and dismissed. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the Veteran does not have a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that VA treatment records show chronic back pain, but there is no in-service record of a back injury or condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease with IVDS and lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence in the July 2024 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for failing to address the Veteran's arguments regarding the adequacy of the July 2020 VA examination, as well as the need to consider whether a retrospective medical opinion was warranted. The Board also found that the August 2018 and July 2020 VA examinations were inadequate due to inconsistent findings regarding flareups.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, depression, migraine headaches, hypertension, abnormal heartbeat, bilateral eye condition (sensitivity to light), erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, upper spine condition, lower back condition, skeletal arthritis of entire joint system, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left foot condition, and right foot condition have all been denied.,The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for any of these conditions due to a lack of current disability or no evidence linking the claimed conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection claims related to left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left knee strain, bilateral hearing loss, and low back injury.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including sinusitis, sleep apnea, a stomach disability, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and a back disability. The appeals are pending further examination or evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica have been granted as they are related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no credible evidence to support his allegation of an in-service injury and concluding that any current back issues are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an internal inconsistency in a VA examination report, which is inadequate for adjudication purposes. The Veteran should be provided with a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his DDD with scoliosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in not obtaining an X-ray report from Teleradiology Specialists, which may contain evidence of a current back diagnosis.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence since the October 2014 denial, warranting readjudication of the claim for service connection for lumbar strain (claimed as a back condition). The case is remanded to the RO for further consideration.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are granted effective January 9, 2017. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected back disability prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since May 2, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate VA examination for assessing the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine condition. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and lumbar spine disability, as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, were denied. The effective dates for these conditions are also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar disorder, diagnosed as lumbar spondylosis and L3-L4 disc herniation status post hemilaminectomy (s/p) right L3-4 hemilaminectomy with diskectomy. The Board found that there is sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current disability and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, and right knee conditions due to inadequate medical opinions in prior examinations.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the April 1, 2020 rating decision was dismissed because he did not timely file a VA Form 10182 and good cause has not been shown to extend the filing deadline.