Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back condition and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to provide the Veteran with a thorough medical examination.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disorder, GERD, and IBS as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted, while other claims for increased ratings were denied or partially granted.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and a 30 percent rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease with spinal fusion, while remanding the claims for right arm radiculopathy, left arm radiculopathy, left shoulder disability, and left ankle disability.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and denied service connection for sleep apnea and a low back condition.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's condition, as the previous opinion was found inadequate.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a compensable disability rating for hypertension. Several issues related to increased ratings were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder strain as secondary to a service-connected disability and sinusitis, but denied an increased evaluation for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the lumbar spine.

The Board granted service connection for COPD from August 10, 2022, under the PACT Act and remanded other claims for further development.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and higher ratings, as well as the TDIU claim.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a duty to assist error, as the Veteran was unable to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic fatigue syndrome, as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting the regulatory threshold for VA purposes. The claims for lumbosacral strain, left hip strain, right hip strain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an upper back disability and remanded the claims for a cervical spine and low back disability for further development.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with strain and radiculopathy, right lower extremity as secondary to the lumbar condition.

The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for right and left shoulder, right and left hip, bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal, bilateral kidney, and urinary disorders based on new and relevant evidence. Service connection was also granted for sinusitis with an earlier effective date. The claim for a peripheral vestibular disorder (claimed as vertigo) was denied.

The Board granted service connection for right and left chronic achilles tendonitis, right and left hand rheumatoid arthritis, Steven Johnson Syndrome, and an initial rating of 70 percent for Other Specified Trauma and Stressor-related disorder. The back disability claim was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and restored the benefits severed for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for chronic headaches and an initial evaluation of 20 percent, but no higher, for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), while denying service connection for dermatitis, tremors of the right hand, and other conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for chronic bronchitis and remanded claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome (lumbar spine disability) and erectile dysfunction.

The Board remands the service connection claim for a back disability to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the claimed condition.