Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied increased ratings for chronic left knee strain and incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, but granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the left lower extremity prior to October 19, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded issues related to service connection for knee and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity neurological disorders, and right and left hip disabilities as they were not shown to be caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service or a service-connected disability.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the low back condition from September 12, 2012 to May 31, 2017 and denied higher ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy. The Board also granted earlier effective dates of September 12, 2012 for the award of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathies and special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease, effective November 21, 2022.

The Board granted a restoration of the 40 percent disability rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and an initial 70 percent disability rating for unspecified bipolar and related disorder, along with a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected unspecified bipolar and related disorder alone.

The appeal for earlier effective dates and initial ratings for service-connected conditions was withdrawn by the Veteran, thus these claims are dismissed.

The Board denied an effective date prior to November 4, 2009, for the grant of service connection for a back disability and granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims for initial ratings, secondary service connection, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, a higher evaluation for PTSD, earlier effective dates for hypertension and back disability, dismissed an appeal for an earlier effective date for residual gunshot wound scars, and remanded several other issues.

The Board remands the claim for a thoracolumbar spine condition to schedule an examination and obtain a medical opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than those already assigned.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and various increased rating claims while granting a 30% disability evaluation for IBS with constipation, an effective date of November 12, 2021, for the award of a 20% rating for right shoulder instability, and a 10% rating for painful motion of the right knee.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for his degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain, and bilateral lower radiculopathy for the sciatic and femoral nerves due to a prohibited concurrent election under the modernized review system.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss due to pre-decisional errors in verifying the Veteran's periods of service and obtaining necessary evidence.

The Board denied the claims for an increased initial rating for PTSD and alcohol use disorder, a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a low back disability, and service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for flatfoot, pes planus, left; flatfoot, pes planus, right; and lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes. The Board also granted an initial 20 percent rating for thoracolumbar strain effective from February 8, 2010.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left shoulder condition, and right knee condition was dismissed due to a late filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities, but denied service connection for left knee strain with shin splints, thoracolumbar strain with IVDS, left shoulder disability to include shoulder strain with impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis, right shoulder disability to include shoulder strain with impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis with calcific tendinitis, and tinnitus.

The Board remands the claim for a back disability to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing the Veteran's reports of in-service back injuries and post-service continuity of symptoms.