Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis and strain residuals are granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for cancer of the head and neck, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired vision disability are remanded.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is granted a disability rating of 40 percent effective June 30, 2016. The claim for an increased rating from January 17, 2023, is denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of asthma. Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric condition including major depression disorder, low back disability (degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy), and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's low back condition and its relationship to service-connected MDD. Additional medical opinions are needed to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of opinions regarding service connection for prostate, back, and bladder disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative disc and joint disease is rated at 20 percent effective September 26, 2018. Service connection for right hip disability, right thigh disability, left hip disability, and left thigh disability are denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including degenerative arthritis, finding that symptoms had onset in service and have continued to the present.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for bilateral hearing loss, left foot disability, or left knee disability. The claim for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's service connection claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and insufficient evidence linking any claimed disabilities to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right shoulder tenosynovitis, and left knee/tenosynovitis disabilities are rated at the maximum schedular ratings. The psychiatric disability is granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain residuals, tinnitus, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertensive vascular disease (high blood pressure) is dismissed.,A 70 percent initial rating, but no higher, is granted for PTSD from December 2, 2018.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS is granted a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of the appeal. Other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation based on back surgeries performed in February and May 2011 is denied because the award of service connection for his low back disability was effective before these surgeries.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis and cervical spine degenerative disc disease have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for prurigo nodularis as secondary to PTSD. The cases of hypertension, left shoulder disorder, thoracolumbar disorder, and a skin disorder other than the service-connected prurigo nodularis are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an open medical question regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar strain disability manifests in a degree of disability that would be the functional equivalent of ankylosis, which may warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's chronic low back strain was restored to a 50 percent rating, effective November 30, 2017. The claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), and left lower extremity (femoral nerve) were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and remanded the knee disabilities due to lack of evidence.