Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine strain and left knee strain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a migraine headache disability but has remanded the claim for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for multilevel degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with radiculopathy due to inadequate response in previous medical opinions. The AOJ must request an independent medical expert opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition, including consideration of his service treatment records and lay statements.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is rated at 50 percent since September 29, 2003. The issue of an initial rating for severe lumbar myositis and the TDIU claim are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as service connection claims for hypothyroidism, GERD, a low back disability, left and right elbow degenerative joint disease, gout (claimed as bilateral foot disability), COPD, kidney, and prostate disabilities. The Board has also dismissed the Veteran's appeals of these issues due to his withdrawal of them.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability, effective February 17, 2021. The criteria for a higher rating were not met at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain missing VA and private treatment records related to the Veteran's hearing loss, low back disability, and left shoulder strain.

The Veteran's claim for higher disability ratings for lumbar spine disability prior to May 20, 2015 and from May 20, 2015 was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to January 12, 2010 due to his service-connected low back strain with degenerative joint and disc disease L4-S1 with herniated nucleus pulposus L4-L5 preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and other benefits due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right hip disabilities. The decision concluded that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

Service connection for a left knee disability is granted.,Service connection for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is denied.,Service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability as secondary to her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there is equipoise of evidence regarding whether her current low back disability was aggravated by her service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left hip, associated with lumbar fusion L1, DDD and DJD, limitation of extension, and limitation of flexion have been denied. The evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his back condition, finding that it is not related to active duty or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea is found to be etiologically related to, or aggravated by, his service-connected adjustment disorder. The Board grants the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected adjustment disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis at L5-S1, is presumed to be related to service due to continuity of symptoms since service. The appeal for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's right knee, hip and lumbar spine disorders are granted as secondary to his service-connected right foot injury.,An increased rating of 20 percent for the Veteran’s right foot disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and right leg numbness as secondary to a low back disorder due to potential issues with the nexus between the current conditions and service.