Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, cervical spine disability, and right elbow disability as the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and service.,Service connection was denied because there is no evidence of current disabilities related to service or within any applicable presumptive period.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, disability ratings, and TDIU claim due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The issues include obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar stenosis, right knee sciatic radulopathy, left knee sciatic radulopathy, and TDIU prior to October 3, 2015.

The Board has granted DIC benefits based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his neck and back disabilities are causally related to his military service. The Board also found that the Veteran’s cause of death is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous instructions, and further examination is needed to address the Veteran's lay contentions regarding an un-documented parachute accident during military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathies are granted with a rating of 20 percent prior to December 21, 2018, and 40 percent thereafter. The right leg radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent from the onset, while left leg radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent since March 30, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability (lumbosacral strain) and assigned an initial rating of 10 percent. The Veteran's other claims, including those related to his wrist, collarbone, knee, shin, and ankle disabilities, are still pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine; right lower extremity radiculopathy; and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and extended temporary total ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or extension of the current ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea, low back condition, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis status post total knee replacement, and bilateral hearing loss. The VA needs to obtain additional examinations and provide adequate rationale for their conclusions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a low back disability and hyperreflexia. The examiner is to determine if these conditions are related to service, including any in-service injury with lumbosacral strain.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to insufficient information regarding flare-ups of the Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee brace and TENS unit, used for his service-connected disabilities, caused wear and tear to his clothing. The Board granted an annual clothing allowance for the year 2017 based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a right knee disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied an initial rating greater than 20 percent prior to September 13, 2020, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for service-connected lumbar spine disability. The appellant's condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on Diagnostic Code 5243 (IVDS) or other relevant rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is related to active duty service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to July 29, 2015, finding that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbosacral strain with thoracic osteophytes, left knee condition, and right knee condition secondary to a left knee condition due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his low back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and psychiatric disability have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn these appeals.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back condition and bilateral knee conditions, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected conditions.