Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability was incurred during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left ankle, and left hand disabilities due to the appellant's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with depression is rated at 50 percent effective April 22, 2018. A separate 10 percent rating for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate his claims for service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence received is both new and relevant, and thus the appeals are granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate his claims for service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence received is considered new and relevant, warranting a readjudication of these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and anxiety, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that is related to these conditions.,Specifically, there was no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection, with the Board resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.,For tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis barbae, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing more than 20% body or exposed area affected.,The Veteran's low back disorder, left lower extremity sciatica, right lower extremity sciatica, erectile dysfunction, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are all remanded for further development as VA examinations may be necessary to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.,Chronic sinusitis and headaches have been remanded due to lack of evidence showing current disability or in-service event.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's preexisting back condition was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle strain with post traumatic degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back condition (claimed as an acquired psychiatric disorder), right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis have been granted. The Board found that new evidence submitted by the Veteran supports a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were received on April 21, 2019. The Board found that an increase in disability was not factually ascertainable within a year prior to the receipt of his claim and thus denied earlier effective dates.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate rationale in the March 2020 VA examination and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a back disorder, and service connection for polycythemia vera were dismissed as the claims remained denied in the November 2021 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability from May 4, 2007 to May 16, 2012 was denied. A 40 percent rating has been granted effective August 16, 2023.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical evidence on direct service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, which may be related to active service including a documented motor vehicle accident in Vietnam in 1970. The Veteran's claims are now pending again.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence being added since the last decision, and the Veteran's request for AOJ review of this evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and evaluation, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between the appellant's service-connected disabilities and her claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's disabilities are associated with service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to missing VA examinations and potential need for additional medical opinions regarding toxic exposure.