Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective May 1, 2014. The RO has granted a temporary total rating for convalescence following surgery.,The Veteran's service-connected low back disability warrants an increased rating to 40 percent from May 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The rating for the low back disability was denied prior to September 23, 2002, from June 22, 2022 forward, and for left lower extremity radiculopathy from May 22, 2009 forward. The Veteran's neck disability claims were also denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for lumbar strain and right shoulder strain, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as depression). The Veteran withdrew his appeal in writing before the decision was made.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve are being remanded due to insufficient examination findings. The case will be returned for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of substantial compliance with previous instructions. The Veteran's back pain is related to her military service, but the VA examiner's opinion was not sufficient for a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and a bilateral knee disability, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right and left foot disabilities.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is due to his in-service duties and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions regarding his tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, and related conditions. The claims are also remanded to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back condition may have worsened since his last VA examination, and he has developed bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy symptoms. The Board finds a remand is necessary to afford the Veteran another examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a neck disability and an upper back disability due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran contends his disabilities are related to in-service incidents, but the Board finds the VA opinions insufficient.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to incomplete records, need for further medical opinions, and potential need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim is not currently before the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for respiratory condition, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and headaches due to issues with secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate VA examination reports and incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted in January 2017, with the effective date set at April 11, 2014. The appeals for earlier effective dates prior to this date are denied.,All five conditions (major depressive disorder, bilateral pes planus, lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, and right ankle sprain) were granted service connection in the January 2017 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and effective date were denied. The back disability was rated at 20 percent from February 20, 2015, but the claim is not prior to this date.

The appeal as to service connection for hypercholesterolemia is dismissed.,New and material evidence having been received, the previously denied claim of service connection for lumbar strain has been reopened. Service connection for a low back disability (including lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis/degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine) is granted.

The Veteran's ratings for left lower femoral nerve radiculopathy, right lower femoral nerve radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, and right lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy were improperly reduced. The reductions are now reinstated.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve is denied.