Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left knee strain, and gallbladder stones to secure missing SSA records and obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for the Veteran's disabilities and ancillary compensation benefits, finding that August 8, 2023, was correctly assigned as the effective date.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left and right hip strains, service connection for headaches, and service connection for a low back disability due to additional medical opinions being necessary.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbago but granted a separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD and a 40 percent rating for lumbar strain, while denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and right foot sprain, denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and denied an increased rating for left lower leg radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and lumbosacral strain. The issues related to right hip strain, right knee pain, left knee strain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, back disorder (including lumbago and lumbosacral spondylosis), sciatica in the right lower extremity, and sciatica in the left lower extremity.

The Board granted an effective date of July 29, 2022, and no earlier for the grant of a 20 percent disability rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for chronic back pain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left knee disability secondary to the service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for service connection for allergies, bilateral hip disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, lower back disability, and right foot, second toe disability due to untimely filing of the appeal requests.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 12, 2022, for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease other than IVDS.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, right shoulder and wrist disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to obtain additional VA medical opinions.

The Veteran was granted service connection for lipoma on the back and scars, secondary to lipoma excision. The claims for an earlier effective date for lumbosacral strain and left wrist sprain were denied.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis, disc degeneration with annular tear and disc protrusions based on the evidence showing a current disability related to active service.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for a low back disability as it has been fully granted.

The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to August 8, 2017, for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and spinal stenosis due to an insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's flare-ups during the appeal period.

The Board remands the case for a new VA examination and to obtain outstanding treatment records, as there is an apparent internal inconsistency in the May 2024 VA examination and indications of worsening since that examination.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back condition, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar spine surgical scar, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.