Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that his current disability is related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating, warranting an increased rating.,Service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative arthritis is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.,The Veteran's current employment status does not affect his entitlement to service connection for DDD and degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in relying on an inadequate VA examination opinion. The Veteran's back condition is being reviewed for its relationship to military service and whether it is secondary to his left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, including lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis. The evidence shows that the Veteran had an in-service injury to his lower back, which led to chronic symptoms continuing since discharge from active duty.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and low back disability. The cases are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential pre-decisional errors in previous VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeals for proposed rating reductions because no adjudicative determination was made, and the Veteran later withdrew his disagreement.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to readjudicate her previously denied claims for service connection for rectus diastasis sacroiliitis, back disorder (lumbar strain), neck disorder, skin disorder, hypertension, residuals of a miscarriage, and bilateral pronation syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service back pain were not credible.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain status, scars, and a disability of the cervical segment of the spine. The evidence did not support that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to a lack of VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for chronic pain, left and right knee pain, and a breathing problem were dismissed. The Veteran's claims for service connection of his left hip disability (secondary to lumbar spine) and peripheral vestibular disorder (vertigo) are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of 20 percent or more for service-connected lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease L5-S1.

The Veteran's appeal of the proposed reduction in rating for lumbar strain from 40% to 20% is dismissed. The issue concerning a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to errors in duty to assist and need for additional medical opinions. The case will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches, back disability, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to a duty to assist error in not obtaining adequate examination opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions as secondary to her service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, or non-service connected TMD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the claim for payment of non-VA care on April 5, 2020 should be remanded due to errors in notification and review process. The appeal will now consider whether the claim should have been reviewed under section 1703 or 1728.

The Veteran's appeals for chronic pain, left and right knee pain, and a breathing problem were dismissed. The Veteran's claims for service connection of his left hip disability (secondary to lumbar spine) and peripheral vestibular disorder (vertigo) are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, including lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, stenosis, and nerve root impingement, is related to his military service. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether this condition was caused by an injury during service.