Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, but denied service connection for bilateral trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) of the bilateral upper extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for residuals of lumbosacral strain, status post-operative due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims in July 2023.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various joint disabilities due to a new theory of entitlement raised by his representative, focusing on whether these conditions are related to his military duties as a heavy equipment operator.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and a rating for shin splints. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and lumbosacral strain are not rated higher than the current levels due to lack of evidence supporting more severe disability. Service connection for cervical spine and left wrist disabilities is denied as they are not attributable to active military service or arthritis manifest within one year post-service. The claim for a headache was previously denied, but new evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening.

The Board has dismissed all pending appeals, including those for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, due to the appellant's authorized representative requesting withdrawals of all appeals.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her lumbosacral strain with IVDS, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied. The current ratings are 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with IVDS.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. Service connection for neurological disorders of the lower and upper extremities is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination necessary to evaluate his increased rating claim, and thus remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and inadequate examination. The presumption of soundness applies, and further development is needed to determine if any current disabilities are related to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address whether the Veteran's right hip and low back disabilities are secondary to his service-connected knee, ankle, and ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to non-compliance with previous directives and to ensure the Veteran is provided adequate opportunity to attend VA examinations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety, was granted service connection. Left ear hearing loss and erectile dysfunction were also granted. However, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left knee flexion limitation, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy with radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and hypertension are denied. The rating for diabetes mellitus is not met.

The Veteran's neck condition, claimed as C-6, 7, 8 compression, is remanded for further evaluation.,Issues of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss are also remanded.

The Board has found that the remand directives have not been substantially complied with and is requesting additional VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder prior to June 5, 2017. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the remanded issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, depression (secondary to physical conditions/persistent migraine headaches), recurrent sinusitis and rhinitis with mucus retention cyst, and status post hemorrhoidectomy has been granted. The rating for the status post hemorrhoidectomy remains at noncompensable.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease (lumbar DJD) is granted an increased rating of 40 percent, effective September 17, 2014. The left hip bursitis is also granted an increased rating of 30 percent, effective the same date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment beginning November 16, 2013. A TDIU on extraschedular basis was granted for the period from November 16, 2013, to March 4, 2014.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability due to new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development.