Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection for radiculopathy of the femoral and sciatic nerves, but denied it for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. Agent fees were awarded in part.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and neck disability to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, tension headaches, and GAD, but denied service connection for high blood pressure. The Veteran's claims for other disabilities were remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus was granted, while the appeals for diabetes mellitus type II and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy were withdrawn. The claim for a low back disorder is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection for various conditions, as well as initial ratings higher than noncompensable for dermatitis and hypertension, and a rating higher than 20 percent for lumbar spine strain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and lumbosacral disability as there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors requiring further development.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a left knee disability, and a low back disability.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for the service-connected lateral collateral ligament sprain and granted service connection for degenerative disc disease with lumbar facet arthropathy as secondary to the left ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease and chronic bronchitis, as the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to July 1, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for hemorrhoids but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and a back disability.

The Veteran is granted a Total Disability Rating for Compensation and Special Monthly Compensation based on statutory housebound status due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis, which render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The claims for higher initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, and left ankle strain are remanded due to inadequate VA compensation examination reports.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left ankle disability, and right elbow disability after new evidence was submitted. The claim for a right shoulder disability was denied. Various knee and scar ratings were either granted or denied.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease with dorsalgia and an effective date earlier than April 19, 2023, for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease with dorsalgia.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of cervical spine degenerative disc disease, as the claim was received more than one year after the prior denial.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic left wrist sprain, chronic right wrist sprain, and lumbosacral strain to obtain additional medical opinions that address the appellant's lay statements about the onset and history of his symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied initial disability ratings for various conditions, including GERD, shoulder strain, elbow strains, lumbosacral strain, and knee conditions. A separate rating was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy due to the service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability and musculoskeletal disorders, as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the claimed conditions.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of April 20, 2019, for the awards of service connection for DDD of the spine and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy.