Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. His headaches are rated at the maximum schedular disability rating of 50 percent. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is not higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all listed conditions was dismissed due to his disagreement with the denial of left flatfoot, which was granted in a prior decision. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding insufficient evidence of an in-service injury and credible accounts from medical providers contradicting his assertions.

The Veteran's lumbar strain (low back condition) has been granted an initial rating of 40 percent.,Service connection for neck condition, left arm radiculopathy, right arm radiculopathy, and sleep apnea have all been granted.

The Board has found pre-decisional error in the November 2019 rating decision and requires VA examinations to cure the error. The claims for service connection are REMANDED.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 13, 2016 for the award of a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), finding that it was incurred during active military service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and lumbar strain.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their relationship to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee and back conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is entitled to a new examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, a left knee injury, and a low back disability have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported these claims based on in-service events and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right inguinal hernia was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a small, postoperative recurrent inguinal hernia that is not well supported by a truss or is not readily reducible.,New and relevant evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus. However, the Veteran's tinnitus was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal of the timeliness of his substantive appeal was granted, and the underlying legacy claim is reinstated for further appellate consideration.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of hearing loss due to a withdrawal request from the Veteran and his representative.,The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthrosis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease is related to his military service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits due to service-connected disabilities, finding that entitlement did not arise until July 16, 2021.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for bilateral flatfoot as it was filed after a prior appeal on the same issue. The claims for lower back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for psoriasis, left hip disability, right hip disability, lumbar spine disability, Graves' disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal during a hearing.

The Board has decided to remand all issues on appeal due to the need for additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being returned for further review.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for initial compensable disability ratings for fibromyalgia, an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of VA examination or opinion regarding their relationship to service, specifically an in-service motor vehicle accident.