Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 60 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The right lower extremity radiculopathy and hip limitations are not rated higher.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, hypertension, and bruxism due to incomplete records from the Veteran's period of active duty with the Alabama National Guard (ANG).

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance as of June 5, 2018. His effective date for SMC based on this condition is now confirmed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injuries, and thus service connection for a low back disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a failure to provide an adequate examination and consideration of her contentions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease, arthritis, of the right wrist/hand with advanced collapse of the scapholunate (slack wrist), and chronic disability of the lower back, lumbar spine, multilevel disc disease with spondylolisthesis. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and shrapnel wound scarring of the lumbar spine are being remanded due to incomplete or insufficient medical opinions. The VA will obtain additional examinations and opinions as needed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. A new VA examination must be conducted and these defects remedied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and low back disorder are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is also being remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Board has found that the Veteran's left and right lower extremity sciatica are not related to his service-connected low back disability, and thus these issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's disability rating for her back disability was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective July 31, 2020. The reduction was not proper and the rating is restored.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reconsider the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right ankle condition, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability has been reopened, and the case is being remanded to determine if his current condition is related to his military service. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricable link with the low back disability claim.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted. The appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran. The right knee and back disability claims are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disorders, as well as bilateral foot conditions (hallux valgus and hammertoes), all of which were determined to be not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the SMC claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employment status and additional VA and private treatment records are needed. The appeal is now in remand status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link between his current condition and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is granted a 20 percent rating, effective April 30, 2008. The left knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating with no higher ratings allowed. The gastroenteritis also receives a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 30% rating effective from January 28, 2011. The issues of initial compensable evaluations for patellofemoral syndrome and chondromalacia of the left and right knees are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on several service-connected disabilities is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.