Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board granted the application to readjudicate the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to new and relevant evidence being presented.

The Board denied service connection for lower back strain, left knee strain or sprain, tinnitus, and generalized anxiety disorder as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, low back, left hip, gastrointestinal, bronchitis, sinusitis disabilities and denied an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for headaches and thyroid disability.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar strain, and left knee strain. The initial rating period from March 5, 2024, was denied for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, right shoulder disability, and tension headaches due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a mood disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, a cervical spine disability, and right ear hearing loss but denied service connection for sinusitis. The left ear hearing loss claim was remanded.

The Board granted effective dates of October 30, 2024, for the awards of service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, knee and back issues, neck strain, shin splints, shoulder strain, sinusitis, rhinitis, GERD, penile condition, and bilateral flatfoot.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for thoracolumbar spine herniated disc and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examinations that did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar pain, hypoesthesia and paresthesia of the right lower extremity, left sciatic radicular pain, hypoesthesia, and paresthesia of the left lower extremity, and OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder. The Veteran was also granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative disc disease and 30 percent for degenerative cervical spondylosis, effective March 6, 2016. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and a neck disability, finding that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis in these areas began during his service and has persisted ever since.

The Board denied attorney fees of more than 10 percent of the past-due benefits awarded in an April 2019 Board decision and effectuated in a May 2019 rating decision.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) with degenerative arthritis and retrolisthesis from February 16, 2021. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine, left ankle, and GERD disabilities but denied higher ratings for the right shoulder and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for urinary incontinence, and a higher rating for lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as service connection for various conditions, except for a granted rating of 30 percent for GERD throughout the period on appeal.