Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation, and no evidence linking the current disability to an in-service injury.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral inguinal hernia and residual scar, but remanded claims for service connection for low back disability, other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, left knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and a skin disorder (eczema and psoriasis) as the evidence did not support these claims. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and left wrist sprain were also denied.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including erectile dysfunction, chest strain, and multiple joint and muscle conditions, to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for left hip arthroplasty, right hip arthroplasty, low back degenerative changes, neck C5-C6 fusion with ankylosis, and a right knee condition.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy but denied higher ratings for the back disability and right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board granted the restoration of a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, residuals, injury, effective April 1, 2022, as the reduction was improper.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss, a left foot disability, and a lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, arthritis of the bilateral knees, a back disability, and a bilateral rotator cuff disability based on credible evidence supporting in-service stressors and symptoms.

The Board remands the matter for an adequate VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's current neck disability, including whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence was in equipoise regarding their incurrence during active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals seeking service connection for a right hip disability, a left hip disability, a thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical strain, and coronary artery disease.

The Board granted service connection for multiple acquired psychiatric and physical disabilities, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee strain, and right knee strain based on evidence that each condition was as likely as not due to in-service parachute jumps.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and low back disorder to obtain an adequate VA opinion as the May 2022 VA opinions are based on inaccurate factual premises.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and remanded claims for left ankle, back, tinnitus, and migraine disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left shoulder strain, degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, and right hip disability but denied service connection for a left knee disability and tension headaches. The traumatic brain injury was also denied.

The Board granted earlier effective dates and initial ratings for muscle tension headaches, sleep apnea, and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, but denied a higher rating for sleep apnea and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress. The Board also granted an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and denied a higher rating.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the initial ratings of various conditions and denied increased ratings, except for a 30 percent rating for Crohn's disease starting January 13, 2022.