Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of bilateral lower extremity claudication, diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, lumbar strain, and osteosclerosis was dismissed due to a failure to timely file a VA Form 10182 with respect to the February 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the lower lumbar spine and degenerative joint disease with medial and lateral meniscus tears of the left knee are currently rated at 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The Board has remanded these claims due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder AC joint arthropathy with impingement and facet degeneration of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during active service and are causally related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which may be related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for service-connected thoracolumbar spine disorder and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy due to outstanding private medical records being needed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating prior to January 9, 2020 and from January 9, 2020 onwards.

The Veteran's appeal for eligibility to direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in an October 2020 Rating Decision has been dismissed because the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's musculoskeletal disabilities, which may be related to his exposure to environmental hazards during service. The VA will obtain new medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his claimed conditions and active service, including exposure to herbicide agents and asbestos.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy or peripheral neuropathy, as well as his neck and low back disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability in these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, left cervical radiculopathy, right cervical radiculopathy, left lumbar radiculopathy, and right lumbar radiculopathy have been granted with effective dates of June 19, 2019.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, cervical spine, left knee, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that is related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, and right knee strain with tendonitis/tendinosis due to duty-to-assist errors in prior VA examinations.

The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was restored to 20 percent effective June 1, 2020. The initial compensable ratings for hypertension and hearing loss were denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current condition began during or as a result of his active service. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, IBS, and lower back condition were denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with stenosis and vertebral fracture, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were granted effective July 5, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board has remanded his claims for service connection for back disorder, sleep apnea, headaches, and painful joints.