Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew the appeal, and all issues on appeal have been dismissed.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the low back condition from September 24, 2024, and increased ratings of 20 percent each for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy impacting the sciatic and femoral nerves starting February 16, 2021.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee tendonitis and lumbosacral myositis with lumbar disc degeneration, as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.

The Board granted separate initial ratings of 20 percent for right and left knee tendonitis with arthritis based on limitation of flexion, granted a 10 percent rating for right and left knee instability, and granted an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with curvature of the spine and degenerative disc disease (DDD) and right lower extremity sciatica.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain prior to February 24, 2015, and the claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent was denied.

The appeal for service connection for a back disability was withdrawn by the Veteran before the Board made a decision.

The Board granted service connection for headaches and tinnitus, but remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral hand disability, a bilateral knee/leg disability, an acquired psychiatric disability, a heart disability, and a back disability.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and denied service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the criteria provided.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder but denied it for obstructive sleep apnea and right hand neuropathy. The claims for left hip sprain and lumbosacral strain were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disorder, gout, hypertension, a left hand disorder, and type II diabetes mellitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence supports an active duty onset of the Veteran's lower back symptoms and their chronicity from active duty to the present.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right foot, left foot, lumbar spine, and right lower extremity radiculopathy conditions.

The Board remands all service connection claims for further development, including obtaining personnel records and a retirement credit summary to determine the Veteran's eligible active service periods.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right wrist strain, and left wrist strain. The appeal of the deferred issue of entitlement to service connection for GERD was dismissed. Other issues were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for TMJ, tinnitus, sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, increased rating for right hip limitation of flexion, compensable rating for right hip impairment of the thigh, and compensable rating for right hip limitation of extension.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD from May 20, 2018 to August 10, 2020 and a 100 percent rating from September 1, 2020. The claims for increased ratings for dyschromia, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar strain, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), back disability, and sleep apnea. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, and left shoulder disabilities. The claims for erectile dysfunction and a respiratory disability were remanded.

The appeal for an earlier effective date than February 1, 2020, for the grant of a 40 percent disability rating for lumbosacral spinal stenosis with facet hypertrophy and degenerative disc disease was dismissed because it is considered a purely ministerial implementation of a Board decision.