Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals for service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case is sent back for an appropriate clinician to provide a new opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's disability rating for lumbosacral spondylosis with spondylolisthesis was restored from 20% to 40% effective February 21, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome was dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate his previously denied claims for service connection due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and denied service connection for a lumbar spine condition. The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to be related to his in-service head injury, while the lumbar spine condition is not linked to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and low back strain with sciatica are being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records, a new VA examination, and clarification of whether the Veteran intends to file an unemployability claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his acquired psychiatric disorder, ulcerative colitis with anemia, sleep apnea, and lumbar spine disabilities, prevent him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's right knee joint osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent from September 13, 2018. The claim for earlier effective date of January 2, 2018 for the grant of service connection for right knee instability has been granted. New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for left knee condition and back condition.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease at C5-6 with herniated disc prevented her from securing and following substantially gainful employment since April 12, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for a TDIU were not met.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss has been dismissed as the Regional Office granted it.,Left ear hearing loss is denied due to lack of current disability.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability evaluation for allergic rhinitis prior to December 4, 2017, is denied.,The Veteran's disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis from December 4, 2017, is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to December 21, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes due to IVDS.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 14, 2017.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The claims of reopening the previously denied left knee and back conditions have been granted.