Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance or housebound criteria, as there was no evidence that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for daily personal needs without assistance from others or substantially confined him to his dwelling.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and remanded claims related to a low back disability, bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, and other conditions due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left knee, right knee, left wrist, right wrist, back, OSA, anxiety disorder, eating/feeding disorder, radicular pain in the right lower extremity, and tinnitus.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and a low back condition, finding that the evidence did not support a causal link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claim for a refund of a VA funding fee to obtain additional records and readjudicate the decision with consideration that the Veteran was still on active duty and receiving service pay at the time of the closing of his home loan.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain was dismissed by the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Board granted service connection for temporomandibular joint disorder and left shoulder sprain, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The cervical spine condition was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, sinusitis, and tinnitus. A 10 percent rating was granted for chronic headaches from December 22, 2021.

The Board granted a 30 percent initial disability rating for chronic sinusitis and denied service connection for several other conditions, including right knee strain, obesity, degenerative arthritis, and others. Some claims were remanded for further consideration.

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine conditions, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right wrist disability, but remanded claims for cervical pain, left knee condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left hip strain, and right hip strain.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied service connection for various other conditions, including cluster headaches, traumatic brain injury, allergic rhinitis, and others. Some claims were remanded.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for PTSD greater than 70 percent but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate effective July 28, 2020.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease as secondary to PTSD. The Board also granted an initial 50 percent rating for migraine headaches effective August 26, 2022.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a skin impairment of the hands and feet, low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right hip disability due to inadequate medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50 percent rating, while the claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder, allergic rhinitis, lumbosacral strain, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome were denied. A separate 10 percent rating was granted from June 17, 2020, for slight left knee instability, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hip condition, headaches/migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but denied service connection for a left knee condition. The issues of service connection for cervical strain, bilateral foot condition, rating in excess of 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and service connection, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder. The other claims were remanded.