Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for his claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Board found that the issue had been resolved by a prior rating decision granting service connection and assigning a 50% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, back disability, and right wrist disability due to errors in duty to assist. The Veteran's lay testimony regarding onset during service and continuity of symptomatology since service is considered.

The appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection granted for Gulf War Syndrome (claimed as bilateral ankle discoloration and knots) stemming from June 1, 2018 claim. Hearing loss service connection denied.,PTSD service connection granted with an initial rating of 50 percent but no higher.,Back condition and bilateral ankle conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition was granted service connection effective November 1, 2019.,An initial rating of 20 percent for the lumbar spine condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to back, hip, knee, and foot disorders should be remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or caused by other service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, back, and right shoulder disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service records are unavailable, but the Veteran served as a Power Generation Equipment Repairer. The VA examiners found no in-service onset or chronicity of any musculoskeletal disorder.

The Veteran's application for PCAFC benefits was remanded due to a legal error in the initial decision, as her other service-connected conditions also required personal care services. The Board found that the medical opinion did not adequately address these additional conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 26, 2009 for the award of Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The Board found that there were no pending increased rating claims for service-connected disabilities prior to June 26, 2009. As a result, TDIU was granted effective March 4, 2015, which is the earliest date entitlement arose.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a thoracolumbar spine disability (lumbar strain), left knee disability, and right knee disability. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to the veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for SMC is granted, effective February 1, 2021. The decision is based on the combination of his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities that independently rate at least 60 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and lumbar spine arthritis, finding that the appellant's symptoms were noted during active duty and continued after separation.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate, particularly in relation to the nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service. The claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure compliance with the duty to assist.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 20 percent effective October 26, 2017. The claim for increased rating was continuously pursued since then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and lumbar spine disorder due to new evidence submitted since the April 2024 rating decision. The claims are now pending for further review.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding an initial compensable rating for scar, lower lumbar spine. The cervical spine disability is granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. The lumbar spine disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was reconsidered due to new and relevant evidence. The Board found that the condition is related to her active service, specifically her participation in Army combative training where she sparred with soldiers significantly heavier and taller than herself.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the absence of contemporaneous service treatment records. The Board finds that addendum medical opinions are needed to determine the etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome is granted based on a finding of continuity of lumbar spine pain symptoms since service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome with spinal stenosis, finding that his current lumbar spine disability is related to in-service low back pain.

The Veteran's central vestibular syndrome, lumbar spine disability, and left lower radiculopathy have been granted with respective ratings. The effective date for the service connection of these conditions is set at October 2, 2012.,A higher initial rating of 30 percent has been granted for the Veteran's central vestibular syndrome, reflecting his unsteadiness and dizziness issues.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, indicating that these conditions make it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.