Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for gastritis with duodenitis and service connection for a left thumb condition, lumbar spine condition, and breast cancer and female reproductive health conditions due to inadequate evidence and failure to ensure VA fulfilled its duty to assist in obtaining private treatment records.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine disability, a cervical spine disability, and a left knee disability due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal for a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis is remanded due to the unavailability of the original Veterans Law Judge and lack of response from the Veteran regarding additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and an earlier effective date for total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee strain disability, and lumbosacral strain due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral sprain, while remanding the claims for left hip strain, right hip strain, left knee instability, right knee instability, and tachycardia.

The Board granted service connection for a disorder of the feet, claimed as status post bunionectomy and status post gallbladder removal. The claims for tinnitus, PTSD, and other back, bladder, GERD, hysterectomy, neck, shoulder, hip, knee, and plantar fasciitis disabilities were denied or remanded.

The appeal for service connection for a lower back condition was withdrawn by the Veteran before the Board could make a decision.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right knee disability, and an increased rating for headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis, as well as an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies of the femoral and sciatic nerves.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for restricted lung disease and a compensable rating for tension headaches, while remanding the claim for service connection for low back strain.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis (lumbar spine), and lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity. The claims for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, a right shoulder disorder, and sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist, specifically regarding joint range of motion testing.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD, a TDIU prior to July 13, 2019, and increased ratings for the lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder due to a lack of new and relevant evidence, and remanded the claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a left breast mass condition and denied increased ratings for a trunk scar above the right breast and bilateral hearing loss. Several claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder and assigned a 20% disability rating, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, higher ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain, and migraine headaches.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and tinnitus, while denying service connection for various other conditions including acne, right wrist disability, back disability, neck disability, left hand disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, migraines headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI), sinusitis, sleep apnea, and hearing loss.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability and a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability, while remanding claims for increased ratings for right and left knee flexion disabilities.