Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back, left ankle, and left hip disability as well as entitlement to TDIU due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, a low back disability, and a right leg disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with mild scoliosis based on forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less.

The Board granted an effective date of January 22, 2021, for the assignment of a 40 percent evaluation for service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and for the award of service connection sciatica of the left lower extremity.

The Board remands the claims for a low back and right foot disorder to correct duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining line of duty determinations and medical opinions.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, restored a higher disability rating for degenerative disc disease and lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, restored a previous disability rating for radiculopathy of femoral nerve, right lower extremity, and granted an increased 50 percent disability rating for migraines.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbosacral strain, restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with DJD, DDD, and IVDS effective April 7, 2023, and granted a 30 percent rating for left shoulder subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis from February 28, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for right temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and bruxism, lumbar spine strain, and erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism. The appeal was denied for an initial compensable rating for eczema.

The appeal for a compensable rating for left knee degenerative joint disease (extension) was denied, and the appeal regarding the proposed reduction in the evaluation of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease was dismissed.

The Board remands the increased rating claim for lumbar spondylosis to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error in that the AOJ failed to obtain an adequate VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent and earlier effective dates for service connection, as well as denied initial higher ratings for radiculopathies.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a right hip disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and vertigo, while remanding claims for sciatica nerve pain, headache condition, and low back condition.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a seizure disorder, back disorder, and respiratory disorder to cure pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee chondromalacia patella with instability, in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia patella with leg pain, and in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain (claimed as lower back pain) to ensure that the Veteran is afforded VA examinations that properly assess the current severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical strain, low back condition, and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for OSA, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee pain, right knee pain, posttraumatic residual pain of the cervical and cervicothoracic regions, and radicular pain and paresthesia of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of both lower extremities and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, while claims for service connection for a back disability, to include back strain; a right ankle disability; a right knee disability; and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD were denied.