Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD and granted an effective date of May 31, 2004, but no earlier, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's asthma with sinusitis, but denied service connection for a low back sprain and plantar fasciitis. The claim for a neck condition was dismissed.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, effective March 7, 2024, as there was no sustained material improvement under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left elbow sprain, right elbow enthesophyte, left knee strain and enthesophyte, right knee strain, and right leg radiculopathy but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, cervical and thoracic spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine condition, erectile dysfunction, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use to allow the AOJ to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, right shoulder disability, and tinnitus to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The appeal for service connection for degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU, DEA benefits, and a finding of TDIU based solely on generalized anxiety disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, except for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability which were granted. The veteran was also granted service connection for hypertension.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy of the left arm, back disability, left elbow condition, left shoulder condition, left wrist condition, left hand condition, hypertension, and an initial rating of 10 percent for coronary arteriosclerosis prior to September 24, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for hemorrhoids, scars, low back disability, left ankle disability, left and right shoulder disabilities, and left and right hip disabilities as the evidence did not show that the Veteran had these conditions or related symptoms during the appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, assigned a 20% rating for right knee strain with limitation of flexion, denied a compensable rating for right knee strain with limitation of extension, and granted a separate 20% rating for right knee instability. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, and GERD were remanded.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for the lumbar spine condition.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and migraine headaches, but remanded the claims for a low back disability and related radiculopathies.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, remanded claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), a mental health condition, and increased ratings for the Veteran's knee strain and scoliosis.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for effective dates prior to September 27, 2024, for the awards of service connection for various knee and back conditions.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine condition, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, lumbar spine condition, and urinary frequency and voiding condition as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. The Board also denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition.