Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability as secondary to his service-connected heart condition, finding that there is no medical evidence linking the back disorder to the heart condition.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders. The decision is based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied. The claim for increased rating of IBS to 30 percent was granted effective January 11, 2021. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left ankle disability remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right great toe disability, and right tibia/fibula disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are associated with post-service work injuries.,There is no evidence of the claimed conditions during active service or within one year following discharge.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a laceration of the left index finger is denied as there are no residuals found.,Service connection for low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, is denied due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred during service or within one year post-service. The examiner opined that any current arthritis is more likely related to natural aging process rather than service.,The Veteran's claim for a right leg disorder is denied as there is no objective medical evidence of a current right leg disorder, and the VA examination found no signs of such a condition.,Service connection for venereal disease, including genital warts and syphilis, is denied due to lack of current diagnosis. The examiner concluded that any residual symptoms are not related to service.,PTSD claim is remanded as there was insufficient evidence provided.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's left wrist disability and gastrointestinal disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot pes planus, right knee disability, and low back disability. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.,The VA examiners provided opinions indicating that there was no direct link between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent effective February 27, 2017. The claim for a higher rating was granted. The bilateral foot disability remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases due to lack of substantial compliance with previous instructions and for obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has found that additional VA treatment records need to be reviewed and considered before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for lumbosacral sprain with mild diffuse degenerative disc changes. The case is being remanded so that this review can take place.

The Veteran's seizures are a symptom of his service-connected conversion disorder with mixed symptoms. Service connection for seizures as a separate ratable entity is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea, cervical and lumbar spinal damage, to include as secondary to the service-connected TBI, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are being remanded due to incomplete records. Additional examinations may be necessary.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The claims are being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, psychiatric disorder (claimed as major depressive disorder), and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle disability due to incomplete examination reports and outstanding SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy (prior to December 23, 2020) was denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since July 21, 2017. Service connection for HPV and sleep apnea are granted. The remaining issues (neck disability, low back disability, seizures of the left/right side of the body, right ankle disability, migraine headaches, and tremors) remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation greater than 20 percent prior to January 5, 2015, and 40 percent thereafter for service-connected lumbosacral strain has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board dismissed the appeal for a left knee disability.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability was granted, with evidence indicating that his condition likely began during active duty and was aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional impairment or associated neurologic abnormalities. The current 40 percent rating adequately reflects the Veteran's symptoms and limitations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions due to potential changes in the Veteran's character of discharge from his period of service. The appeal is not about a presumption, exposure basis, or new and material evidence.