Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including lumbosacral radiculitis and spinal stenosis of the lumbar region, is not service-connected as it did not have its onset in service or due to a service-connected condition. The claim for secondary service connection was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for transverse myelitis, to include residuals from a back injury, spinal stress fracture, and bulging discs (back disability), as well as her claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include anxiety and depression as secondary to a back disability. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's conditions were related to service.

Service connection is granted for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for unspecified depressive disorder, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle degenerative arthritis, right knee osteoarthritis status post total replacement, left knee osteoarthritis status post meniscal tear repair, right hip degenerative arthritis, left hip degenerative arthritis and femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, right wrist degenerative arthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, right shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tear status post total replacement, left shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, right lateral epicondylitis, left lateral epicondylitis, neck pain, lumbar spine DJD, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease (DDD), lumbosacral strain, and radiculopathy.,Service connection is denied for coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and hypertensive heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition was previously denied, but new and material evidence has been received. The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection due to insufficient information in the previous examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for neck, back, and tinnitus disabilities, as well as increased ratings for his service-connected migraine headaches and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache condition and an increased rating for his low back condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, including obstructive sleep apnea, and a low back disability. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to active service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 15, 2007. The increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Board has found that the recent April 2023 addendum medical opinion was inadequate and requires another remand for a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for PTSD and back disability, as well as the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy with a separate rating, was denied. The effective date for the service connection is set at October 20, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 2, 2017.

The reduction in the rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from 40 percent to 10 percent, effective May 11, 2018, was improper and the 40 percent disability rating is restored.,Entitlement to service connection for a heart disability is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking it to his service. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's low back strain, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, tinnitus, right wrist and hand conditions, left forearm condition, and lower back condition have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding service connection and rating for the Veteran's lumbar strain and cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his reported disabilities, including bilateral elbow conditions and low back pain. The cases are being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) due to the evidence showing forward flexion between 60 and 85 degrees, a combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine between 125 and 235 degrees, without palpable muscle spasm. The Board found that these findings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals regarding the service connection for bilateral shin disability, a rating for lumbar strain with degenerative joint and disc disease, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection is not granted for TBI or lumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of compliance with previous remand requests for a VA examination and medical opinion. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being reviewed again.