Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and granted. The claim for a higher initial disability rating for her low back disability is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that it is not etiologically related to his active service and arthritis of the low back was not present within one year of separation from active service. The Board also found that the low back disability is not caused or aggravated by service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain with mild thoracic spondylosis and sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities was denied. The Board found that a rating higher than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, separate compensable ratings for sciatic radiculopathy prior to August 12, 2018, and staged initial ratings for sciatic radiculopathy from August 12, 2018 to July 5, 2023 were not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left knee instability due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his low back condition, which he contends is related to parachute jumps during active service or caused by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial increase in his disability rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar spine is remanded due to inadequate examination and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar disorder due to conflicting medical evidence regarding which nerves are involved, as well as outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran will need to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, and left knee disability, rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as related to in-service noise exposure.,His right ankle injury residuals are denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability.

The claim for service connection for a right ankle disability is granted. The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 70 percent rating, but the Board finds no evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder and skin cancer. The VA will need to provide additional medical opinions to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity (major) is granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective July 16, 2018. The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity (minor) is granted a 20 percent evaluation, effective July 16, 2018. Service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are all granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle, left knee, and bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disorders. The remand is due to insufficient evidence on whether pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle conditions due to a lack of examination related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) under the PACT Act and an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral tinnitus, lower back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, shin splints of the left leg, and shin splints of the right leg have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support these claims.,There is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected low back spasms was denied because he failed to report for his scheduled VA examination without providing good cause.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spondylosis and back disability as the injuries that caused these conditions did not occur during active duty or inactive duty training.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Meniere's Disease, a back condition, and atrial fibrillation due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and migraine headaches as there is no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and TDIU due to service-connected conditions. The Veteran's eye disability was found not to warrant an increase in rating.