Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's initial ratings for lower back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied as his conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on the criteria provided in the rating schedule.

The appeals seeking increased ratings for the lumbar spine, skin disease, bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic radulopathy are dismissed.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for OSA is granted. Service connection for OSA is now established.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for sinusitis is granted. Service connection for sinusitis is now established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA applications and requests for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for chronic testalgia disability was withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing. The new and material evidence received since the last final denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the psychiatric disability claim, as it fails to show any nexus between the current disability and service.,The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's back disability was also denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking his current back condition to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for her lumbar spine and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to May 4, 2023 or since then.,For both periods of time, the evidence showed limited range of motion but no ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including right and left foot disorders, bronchial asthma, knee, hip, shoulder, or neck DJD, or cervical spondylosis. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury, disease, or symptoms.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left lumbar radiculopathy have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of those claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of lumbar discectomy, migraines, peripheral neuropathy (PN), sleep disturbance, cancer of the lymph nodes, blood clots, right testicular condition, and testicular cancer due to incomplete records. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with his other claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, left thigh varicose veins, lumbosacral strain (secondary to bilateral pes planus), and right Achilles tendonitis have all been granted.,Service connection has been established for the Veteran's current conditions based on exposure to particulate matter during service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further development due to insufficient medical information and the need to obtain updated treatment records. The claims include earlier effective dates and evaluations for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral knee meniscal tears with degenerative arthritis (now claimed as knee pain), residuals of cold injury of the bilateral hands, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The Board will consider whether his back, right great toe, right shoulder, and right wrist conditions are related to service or have been aggravated by service.

The Veteran's injuries from the May 1980 motor vehicle accident are not considered to be in line of duty due to willful misconduct.,Service connection for all claimed conditions is denied as they resulted from the Veteran's own willful misconduct during the incident.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at 20 percent effective May 17, 2018. Separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, initial compensable rating for right little finger disability, and entitlement to service connection for low back disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis meeting VA criteria. For his right little finger disability, a noncompensable rating remains appropriate due to the lack of limitation of motion or ankylosis. Service connection for low back disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board notes that an examination is needed to determine its current severity.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, finding that the preexisting condition was aggravated by service.,Service connection for chronic lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (lumbar spine arthritis) is also granted based on continuity of symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted service connection, with a maximum disability rating of 30%.,Her migraine headaches are granted an increased disability rating to 50%, the highest possible under current criteria.

The Veteran's cervical strain is rated at 10 percent before October 6, 2023, and 20 percent thereafter. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at 10 percent before October 6, 2023, and 20 percent thereafter. The appeal for a higher rating has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's OSA was incurred during service, if it is at least as likely as not caused by his weight gain due to his back disability, and if so, whether it would have occurred without the aggravation of obesity from his back disability.