Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining SSA and CSRS/FERS disability records and scheduling a TERA examination.

The Board remands the service connection claims for bilateral ankle disability, back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral shoulder disability, acid reflux, headaches, and bilateral foot disability due to a need for private medical records and VA examinations.

The Board remands the case to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's lower back disorder, including whether it was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability, right knee disability, and/or right ankle disability.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, osteoarthritis, and patellofemoral pain syndrome, a left hip condition, and a right eye injury to include double vision. The Board also granted ratings of 30 percent for migraine headaches prior to December 13, 2021, and 20 percent from March 26, 2022, for left lower extremity radiculopathy (LLER).

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for connective tissue and disc stenosis of the lumbar region, as the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for low back pain and denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, but denied increased ratings for obsessive compulsive disorder and left testicle atrophy with Peyronie's disease.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 20 percent, the schedular maximum, for his service-connected right ankle is granted. The claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for lumbar arthritis with strain is denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability and right shoulder disability to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the November 2023 rating decision on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including back, knee, ankle, psychiatric, and migraine conditions, as the evidence did not support a link to active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Board granted service connection for spinal fusion, spinal stenosis, s/p spinal lumbar decompression (back condition) based on new and relevant evidence that the Veteran's preexisting back condition was aggravated during active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left lower lumbar condition, right lower lumbar condition, and left hand fracture dislocation left proximal 5th phalanx at MCP joint s/p reduction with degenerative arthritis to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, and no nexus between the current complaints and service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence to support higher ratings or a link between his claimed conditions and military service.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine, and multiple sclerosis. The increased disability rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches was denied.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and a back disability, but dismissed the appeal for PTSD as it was moot due to an earlier grant of service connection.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for sleep apnea and nummular dermatitis, eczema, but denied a higher disability rating for left foot metatarsalgia fracture, with Morton's neuroma, hammer toes, hallux valgus, hallux rigidus, plantar fasciitis, pes planus and degenerative arthritis, and an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea.

The appeal for service connection for lumbosacral strain s/p spine surgery has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral spine condition, including degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome, annular tear of L5/S1, lumbar neuritis/neuralgia, and herniated disc L5/S1. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded for further consideration.