Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied a compensable rating for the service-connected tenia pedis and onychomycosis bilateral feet, denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, and remanded several claims for further development.

The Board remands the case to determine whether new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate claims of service connection for various conditions.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability and a 40 percent rating from February 5, 2021 to March 18, 2024 for the low back disability. Service connection was also granted for sciatic nerve conditions in both lower extremities as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and remanded the claims for service connection for back condition, allergic rhinitis, migraines, skin condition, bilateral eye condition, and an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected low back disability and associated lower extremity radiculopathies. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board granted an effective date of September 25, 2020 for the award of service connection for chronic low back pain and radiculopathy of both lower extremities.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and remanded the claims for service connection for back condition, allergic rhinitis, migraines, skin condition, bilateral eye condition, and an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, as the evidence did not support a current disability or a link to active service. The claims for lumbar spine condition, nose scar, and right-ear scar were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, back disability, and bilateral knee disability as the evidence did not support current diagnoses or a nexus to in-service events.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a higher rating for PTSD, and the reduction in rating for lumbosacral strain. The claims for service connection for GERD, erectile dysfunction, headaches, and higher ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the now service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's back disability, service connection for left leg radiculopathy as secondary to the back disability, and a 10 percent disability rating for recurrent acute sinusitis.

The Board grants service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, cervical arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, posterior neck scar, neurological impairments of all extremities, hypopharyngeal mucosa laceration with residual dysphagia and esophagus dysfunction, neurogenic bowel dysfunction, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction, as secondary to service-connected spinal disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pituitary mass, but denied increased ratings for chronic sinusitis, deviated nasal septum with rhinitis, chronic pharyngitis with a history of strep throat and rhinitis, pituitary mass with migraine headaches, hypertension, hypothyroidism, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions, including impotence, headaches, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities.

The veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with somatic system disorder with persistent pain, effective from November 21, 2019. The other claims were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cardiac arrhythmias, lumbar spine pain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a VA examination is conducted.

The Board denied service connection for various claimed disabilities, including right and left knee replacements, ankle sprains, neck strain, lumbosacral strain, rotator cuff tear, shoulder dislocation, and sleep apnea, as the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.