Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a thoracolumbar spine disorder, and a right knee disorder have been readjudicated. The Board finds new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to reopen these claims.,Service connection is granted for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% for the entire review period from July 1, 2021 to April 18, 2022. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for DDD of the lumbar spine and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports. The cases will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability is being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 1, 2016. Therefore, the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The Veteran also does not meet the criteria for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 prior to April 1, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine, as well as his heart condition related to toxic exposure risk activity (TERA), have been granted. The heart claim is remanded due to a need for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar disability was not service-connected at the time of his surgery in December 2019, so he cannot be granted a temporary total rating for convalescence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back condition, hip pain (arthralgia), and headaches, migraine due to potential pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran is presumed exposed to environmental toxins as a Persian Gulf veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for restless leg syndrome is remanded. The reduction of the rating for his lumbar spine disability from 20% to 10% is found to be improper and void ab initio.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis was denied. New evidence has been received, but it does not change the outcome.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for dermatitis and bilateral conjunctivitis were remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of various knee, hip, and elbow disorders as well as cold injury residuals (frostbite) of the right foot. The Board dismissed all issues in this appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including back disorder, right and left lower extremity neurological disorders, right knee status post ACL tear repair disorder, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and left shoulder degenerative arthritis. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no persuasive weight of the evidence showing current disabilities or a relationship between any claimed conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and IVDS, as well as secondary service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support the claim. The Board concluded that the current lumbar spine disabilities are less likely than not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and a need for further hearing.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, radiculopathy of lower extremities, neck disability and associated radiculopathy, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disability due to incomplete information.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and a TDIU prior to January 31, 2020 has been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for back disability, right lower extremity sciatica / radiculopathy, and left lower extremity sciatica / radiculopathy. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were caused by service.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease, effective from January 11, 2017. The decision finds that the disability more nearly approximates flexion greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.