Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a forehead scar, as a residual of a head injury. The issues of neck and back disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service connected lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis was denied. The rating decision on appeal awarded a 40 percent disability rating under DC 5237, and the Veteran seeks a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is being asked to provide additional evidence or undergo examinations to determine if her disabilities are related to her in-service injuries and conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, and low back disability as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran was found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities from November 9, 2015. The Board granted an effective date of November 9, 2015 for the TDIU award.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5243. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis.,The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating as there was no indication of severe incomplete paralysis or marked muscular atrophy.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on their back disability, left femoral radiculopathy, and left sciatic radiculopathy have been dismissed due to the lack of timely filing of a VA Form 10182.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection due to inadequate examinations and missing evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo further VA examinations to determine if her back disability and sleep disorder are related to her active military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of propriety of the reduction in rating for the Veteran's lumbar back disability, entitlement to increased ratings for her lumbar back and associated radiculopathy disabilities, and requests for additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right hip disabilities have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence that tends to prove or disprove a matter at issue with respect to these claims. The AOJ will readjudicate the claims, taking into consideration all of the evidence of record.

The Veteran's low back disability and associated radiculopathy have been consistently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable criteria. The Board denied his request for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is caused by his service-connected left heel condition. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal for service connection of psoriasis and the grant of service connection for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine with a disability rating of 20 percent effective December 16, 2019 are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic pain, right lumbar radiculopathy, left lumbar radiculopathy, and alcohol dependency as secondary to a low back disability. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a low back disability, finding that no claim was filed prior to April 26, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in the January 2020 rating decision. The Veteran's lower back and right leg conditions are being reviewed, as well as his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for segmental and somatic dysfunction of the lumbar region, cervicobrachial syndrome, and radiculopathy, lumbosacral region. The conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service aviation duties.

The Veteran's back disability is denied as there was no chronic in-service disease or injury, and the current diagnosis of minimal lumbar degenerative disc disease did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's right knee disability is denied due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that led to his current condition.,The Veteran's left knee disability is denied as there was no chronic in-service disease or injury, and the current diagnosis of tricompartmental osteoarthritis with meniscal tear did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's back condition was granted an increased rating from February 1, 2019. The right and left leg radiculopathies were also granted initial ratings of 20 percent each.

The Board has decided to remand all claims due to duty-to-assist errors, requiring additional examinations and opinions for the left knee, right knee, lumbar spine, and tinnitus issues.