Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic fatigue, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, headaches, and a hysterectomy. The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is also found to be related to her service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for left knee and back braces in 2019 due to insufficient evidence showing that these devices caused wear and tear on his clothing.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability and cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and a higher rating were dismissed due to improper docketing.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, headaches, lumbar spine disability, and fibromyalgia are all found to be related to her military service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, headaches, lumbar spine disability, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected fibromyalgia. The Veteran's spondylosis/degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to March 24, 2015 have been denied as there were no formal or informal claims filed prior to that date.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, thoracolumbar spine disability, and chronic bronchitis due to duty-to-assist errors. The issues are related to service connection and require additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis and degenerative joint and disc disease, but remanded the claim of service connection for migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease (DDD) as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities. The VA is required to provide an addendum opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to his service-connected knees.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, both found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected right foot injury.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain may have aggravated her current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and thus remands for further development to obtain a medical opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than June 7, 2016 for the assignment of service connection for a back disability has been dismissed.,An initial disability rating of 40 percent, but no more, effective June 7, 2016 for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is granted.,An initial disability rating of 40 percent, but no more, effective June 7, 2016 for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is granted.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability has been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for anxiety, depression, and Meniere's disease have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in the initial examination and lack of medical records, requiring further investigation into the Veteran's lower back conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is attributable to his active-duty service.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy are caused by his service-connected low back disability.,Service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies (left and right) is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative arthritis, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability, to include acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability, to include acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the July 2023 VA examination report. The examiner did not address whether the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain pre-existed service or was aggravated by service, which is necessary for proper adjudication of the claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a respiratory disability and OSA have been denied due to lack of current diagnosis. The low back disability claim is remanded as there was an error in the duty to assist.,Service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to a duty to assist error.