Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several service connection claims due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for vertigo, depression, anxiety, headaches, a neck disability, dermatitis, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue, and a back disability.

The Board denied service connection for allergies, ankle strain, migraine, left knee condition, right knee condition, and thoracolumbar spine condition as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected conditions and denied service connection for several additional conditions, granting service connection for headaches.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and low back disability as the evidence did not show a current diagnosis or functional limitation that could be considered a disability.

The appeal was dismissed for the issue of service connection for left calf atrophy, while readjudication was granted for a left hip condition. Other issues were remanded.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent for spondylolisthesis lumbar fusion with bone graft low back, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 1, 2016.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition but denied service connection for cystic acne to the back, face and neck, to include acne scars of the face, neck and upper back.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, left leg radiculopathy, bilateral restless leg syndrome, and obstructive and central sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining adequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar condition, mononeuropathy of the sciatic nerve, and glaucoma to obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to the Veteran's failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations, which he has now provided 'good cause' for.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, skin condition (tinea pedis), and lumbar spine disability but denied it for a dental condition.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and denied initial compensable disability ratings for erectile dysfunction, orchitis, unilateral, chronic, anxiety disorder, unspecified, fracture, 5th metacarpal bone, right hand, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected conditions and granted SMC at the statutory housebound rate from July 5, 2023. The decision also remanded several claims related to secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the evaluation of lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted, while other claims were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, hypertension, and musculoskeletal issues, to ensure compliance with duty to assist requirements.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted an effective date of August 24, 2012. The ratings for the other conditions were denied or remanded.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for a facial scar and a separate 10 percent rating for pain, but dismissed appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and back disability due to untimely notices of disagreement. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and headaches were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, finding a medical link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's awards of service connection and denied increased ratings, except for a 20% rating from October 19, 2020 to October 1, 2021 for his lumbar spine disability.