Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability was not incurred during service and is less likely caused by a hard landing in a helicopter, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, was granted in an August 2021 rating decision. This decision represents a full grant of the benefits sought on appeal. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and left knee conditions, have worsened to the point where he requires constant use of an ambulatory device for walking. The Board finds a remand necessary to assess the severity of these conditions and their impact on daily activities.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking his acute cardiac dysrhythmia and atherosclerotic heart disease to service.,Service connection for the right hip disability was denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for colon perforation has been granted, and the issue of service connection for diabetes, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The main issues are related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, and various other conditions such as right shoulder degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine strain, hip strains, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), positional vertigo, coccydynia, knee patellar tendonitis, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are being considered for their impact on these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, cervical lordosis, and compression fractures and degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine are remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of various musculoskeletal disorders, including bilateral knee and shoulder disorders, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder. The issues are related to secondary service connection.

The Veteran's fatty liver disease and degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine have been granted service connection. The Veteran is now rated at 40% for his lumbar spine disability from August 4, 2021 onwards.

The Veteran's low back disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been granted initial disability ratings, but with limitations on their severity.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of frostbite of the bilateral feet, PTSD, and hypertension. The claims for TBI, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral eye disability, and back disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the most recent remand and thus, the appeal must be remanded again to obtain adequate VA medical opinions on behalf of the Veteran.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent effective February 20, 2018. The lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of the appellant's periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). The lumbar spine disorder, major depressive disorder, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are all currently diagnosed. The Board instructed that further VA opinion is needed after verifying the service dates.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and secondary service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy due to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is a reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran's claims.

Service connection is granted for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)/Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine.,Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety.

The Veteran's asthma, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all rated as they were prior to the remand. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, to include chronic myositis of the paralumbar spine muscles, and for a bilateral ankle disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his service connection claims, including those related to tinnitus, low back disorder, left hip disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and right thumb disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder DJD, right shoulder DJD, lumbar spine DJD, and right knee DJD. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection was not granted as the Board found no medical evidence that any of the Veteran's claimed disabilities were incurred or aggravated by his active duty.