Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for heart attack (myocardial infarction) status post triple coronary bypass, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension.

The appeal to readjudicate service connection for left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, lumbar spine disorder, and left hip disorder was denied as new and relevant evidence has not been submitted.

The Board granted the reinstatement of a 40% rating for lumbar strain, effective November 6, 2023, as the previous reduction was based on an inadequate VA examination.

The appeal as to the claims of service connection for shoulder pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is dismissed, and an effective date prior to April 18, 2024, for the award of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, to include degenerative arthritis and scoliosis, is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral knee conditions, bilateral shin conditions, and lumbar back condition was dismissed as it was not timely filed.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 13, 2023, for service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran due to his service-connected disabilities that have resulted in the effective loss or permanent loss of use in both lower extremities.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbosacral strain, spondylolisthesis, IVDS.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot condition, hearing loss, low back condition, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of cervicalgia with degenerative disc disease, to include as secondary to left and/or right lower extremity radiculopathy with foot drop, for an addendum medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, low back disability, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the low back disability.

The appeal was dismissed due to a formal defect related to the Veteran's concurrent election of multiple review options for the same issues.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hearing loss, as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions. The claims for service connection for various other conditions were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his back pain.

The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to November 30, 2021, as the Veteran was not shown to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board remands the matter for an additional VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, as the previous examination did not account for the Veteran's reported flare-ups.

The Board granted disability ratings of 40 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome, 30 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, 30 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and 30 percent for right knee patellar chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis, but not higher.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity (RLE) sciatic radiculopathy to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, as secondary to the lumbar spine disability, a cervical spine disability, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, as secondary to the cervical spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and a lower back condition to schedule VA medical examinations as there is insufficient evidence of record to determine the etiology of these conditions.