Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to service-connected back disability, which meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, finding that it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative arthritis and spondylosis are rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA guidelines.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy is also rated at 20 percent.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to new evidence submitted after a prior final rating decision. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed again as there may be a connection between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of lumbosacral strain and cervical spine loss of lordosis with degenerative disc disease C5-C6 have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal in October 2023.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current low back conditions are related to his active service, including parachute jumps during service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for lumbosacral or cervical strain (low back condition or pain).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left wrist pain and right wrist pain due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is denied for right ear hearing loss and low back pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder, neck, left arm, left finger, and back disorders were not incurred in or caused by service. The disorders were not aggravated by, proximately due to or the result of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher disability ratings for right knee chronic strain with arthritis and lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis due to issues regarding the competence of the VA examiner who conducted the December 2022 VA knee and back examinations.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, drug abuse disorder secondary to service-connected left knee and back conditions, and chronic pain disorder are all granted as service connected.,Service connection for the respiratory condition is established due to exposure during Southwest Asia service. Service connection for the drug abuse disorder and chronic pain disorder is established based on direct service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, stomach fibroid, right foot disability, left foot disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder and TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted. The left knee disability, right knee disability (as secondary to the left knee), tinnitus, and lumbar spine disability are all found to be related to his military service. However, hypertension is remanded as a VA examination is needed.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's cervical strain, left hip strain, right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, and lumbosacral strain are being remanded for additional medical opinions to determine if they are related to his in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy (left hip), left hip disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability are all granted. The claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is also granted.