Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied. The Board also found that he is not entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, except for mental health conditions and back disability which affected his ability to work prior to February 28, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence does not establish an in-service injury or disease and that there is no nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity during active service and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between current condition and in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 12, 2021 to May 11, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities. The conditions are found to be etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and developing his claim based on herbicide exposure. The Veteran is presumed to have had early onset peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, which may be related to his in-service exposure.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 22, 2004 for the award of service connection for migraines (claimed as constant headaches). The Veteran's claim was reopened due to new and material evidence received within a year of the initial denial in December 2004.

The Veteran's anemia, erectile dysfunction, tachycardia, thrombocytopenia, L5 radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, somatic symptom disorder, and lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease are all found to be caused by his service-connected acute myeloid leukemia (AML).,The Veteran's fatigue is not considered a separate disability from his AML-related conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate, particularly regarding whether the Veteran's back and hip disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve affecting the left lower extremity is now rated at 40 percent effective January 17, 2018. TDIU was granted as of January 9, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back condition and left knee condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not have a current disability at the time of separation from service, nor could it be presumed due to continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left hip bursitis and a back disability is dismissed due to the lack of timely filing of a VA Form 10182, which was required by law.

The appeal of the proposed reduction in the disability rating for service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome is dismissed. The Veteran's entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea with bronchitis is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition began during his active military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and bilateral knee disabilities related to parachute jumps should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a right knee disability and low back disability due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran is potentially entitled to presumptive service connection based on exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder may be related to his service, but more development is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of the condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left ankle sprain, right shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, and left elbow disorder have all been granted service connection with the appropriate ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to errors in obtaining and associating medical records, as well as failing to provide a VA examination for some of the conditions. The claims will be reconsidered upon completion of these directives.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and pseudofolliculitis barbae, but denied service connection for back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and/or sciatica, left hip disability, right hip disability, and neck disability.