Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar sprain, finding it to be related to an in-service back injury.

The Board remands the claims for additional evidence and a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder, cervical, and back conditions were proximately caused by his participation in the VA CWT program.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lower back disability, neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities due to a lack of adequate medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, and osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis of the right knee prior to October 25, 2023. The claim for a left knee disability was also granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board remands the claim for a chronic lower back disability for an examination to determine its etiology.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for the remaining conditions.

The appeal for a compensable disability rating for ulcerative colitis was withdrawn and dismissed, while the Veteran's entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar stenosis, finding no sufficient evidence of an in-service back injury or continuity of symptomology and a medical nexus between the Veteran's current disability and his military service.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's back condition and an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis on a presumptive basis, but denied service connection for lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain and denied a rating greater than 20%, as well as service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis to ensure an adequate medical opinion is obtained.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability from June 16, 2024, and denied an increased rating in excess of 30 percent prior to that date. The appeal was also remanded for further development regarding other disabilities.

The appeal for an initial compensable rating for GERD was withdrawn, and the claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral knee disability, and right knee disability were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for left knee strain, lumbosacral strain, service connection for a right hip disability (degenerative arthritis), and a right elbow disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, right wrist, left wrist, lung condition, mental health condition (anxiety and depression), thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, plantar fasciitis, and migraine due to a lack of evidence supporting current disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral restless leg syndrome and a lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of current conditions related to the Veteran's military service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), left restless leg syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right ankle disability, right ankle scar, and hypertension. The Board also remanded several claims for further development.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the degenerative arthritis DDD other than IVDS with chronic lumbar syndrome since May 1, 2023, and remanded claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal condition, skin condition, and neck condition.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right foot drop. The claim for urinary dysfunction was remanded.