Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a lumbar spine disability, and OCD as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right knee disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The left knee disability claim was denied.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's back conditions and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew all pending claims and chose to pursue subsequently filed supplemental claims for the same conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for a right index finger disability and a left knee disability, as concurrent elections are prohibited. An initial rating of 20 percent was granted for a back disability.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including the right and left hip, ankle, and flatfoot conditions due to insufficient evidence of current disability. The claims for shoulder strain, neck, back, and neurological conditions were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is linked to his in-service exposure to hazardous noise. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and depression are remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for asthma and lumbosacral strain due to a need for further development of the record, including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the matter to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and obtain new medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for colitis and a lumbar spine disorder, to include degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues, including initial and increased ratings for various conditions and service connection claims.

The Board remands the matter of service connection for a back disability, as the June 2023 VA medical opinion is not adequate to address whether the Veteran's dextroscoliosis preexisted his service and was aggravated during his service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including dental trauma, chronic respiratory failure, headaches, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, low back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, hemorrhoids, epigastric pain, thyroid disability, monoclonal paraproteinemia, and hip disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service back injury or chronic back pain during service and that the current condition is more likely due to post-service activities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for a right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and coccyx injury residuals with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating from 20 percent to 60 percent for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with spondylosis was granted effective March 30, 2009, to March 29, 2010.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to address the relevant rating criteria and the beneficial effects of medication.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from September 21, 2023, but denied a higher rating prior to that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, special monthly compensation due to the need for aid and attendance, and SMC due to loss of use of a creative organ prior to March 6, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disability, left knee strain, and psychiatric disability (PTSD) as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.