Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's low back and bilateral ankle disabilities are granted as service connected. The Board found the evidence in equipoise, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy/sciatica, and right lower extremity radiculopathy/sciatica due to a lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's incarceration and failure to attend a VA examination. The claim for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is being returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is denied due to lack of evidence supporting such a condition during or after his military service.,Service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease was granted, but an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent prior to May 21, 2013 is not warranted based on the evidence provided.,Service connection for left knee medial meniscus tear with MCL bursitis was granted, but a higher initial disability rating than 10 percent is not supported by the evidence.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, arising from lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease, was granted. However, an earlier effective date of October 8, 2014, is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and lumbar radiculopathy (claimed as nerve damage) because there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the death of the Veteran's widow, as her appeal is no longer in a jurisdictional state.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate or insufficient examinations in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right wrist disability, back condition, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and skin disorder (including dermatitis and urticaria) due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The claims of service connection for neck and back disorders have been reopened due to new evidence received. The cases are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain with spondylosis was denied in a March 1974 rating decision and again in a September 1985 Board decision. The most recent denial is considered final, as the Veteran did not appeal it. New evidence submitted since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence about whether the Veteran's back was injured prior to service and a need for another VA examination to determine the etiology of his lumbosacral strain.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for a low back disability and headaches.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities: DDD of the thoracolumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right foot hallux valgus with arthritis. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions of hypertension, Sjogren’s syndrome, bilateral hip disability, neck disability, back disability, asthma, bilateral CTS, left knee disorder, and seizures are all granted. The claims for a bilateral shoulder disability, IBS, and TMJ syndrome have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, finding that there is no competent evidence linking the lumbar spine disability to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, hypertension, and jungle rot have been denied.,Service connection for PTSD has been granted but the Veteran is seeking an increased rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, cervical neck disability, bilateral cataract disability, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizoaffective disorder, depressed type. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection of a back disorder was granted. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s back disorder developed as a result of an in-service fall, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and a bilateral lower extremity neurological disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service due to multiple back injuries documented in his STRs.

The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder is denied. The Veteran's claims for throat, shoulder disability, GERD, and right shoulder scars are all denied. The Veteran’s claims for sinusitis and sleep apnea are remanded.