Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, but denied service connection for a back disability and a respiratory disability.,The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's back or respiratory disabilities were related to his military service.,The Veteran was awarded service connection for IBS based on its association with his PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, left upper extremity neuropathy, and right upper extremity neuropathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service or any incident therein.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, left upper extremity neuropathy, and right upper extremity neuropathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service or any incident therein.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back, neck, knee, upper and lower extremity neurological, kidney, bowel blockage, skin cancer, and hemorrhoids, due to missing records and inadequate development of evidence.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome to ensure that VA's responsibilities under the duty to assist are followed.

The appeal for service connection for a back disability was granted, while other issues were remanded. The Veteran's claim for chronic headaches was readjudicated favorably.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, prior to March 31, 2021, for the Veteran's thoracolumbar strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, except for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which was granted a 30 percent rating.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis for referral to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection were partially granted, with specific conditions receiving different effective dates.,The Veteran was awarded a total disability rating for PTSD starting October 28, 2020, and service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis, and migraine headaches starting April 1, 2022.

The Board remands the issue of a higher disability rating for degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection awards, finding that the appropriate effective date was May 4, 1998, when he first filed a claim specifically for a back disability.

The Board granted an effective date prior to December 20, 2019, for a 40 percent rating for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatica and left lower extremity sciatica. The claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities were denied.

The Board granted service connection for tinea pedis and remanded claims for increased rating and additional service connection.

The Board remands the claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for a thoracolumbar spine disability from September 9, 2024 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its secondary conditions of peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities as well as left lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service.

The Board granted service connection for left eye chronic conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and right ankle sprain. Service connection was denied for a right hand status post laceration disorder, neck disorder, dental trauma and gingivitis, back disability, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, pelvic fracture, and left eye disability.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the ratings assigned for a lumbar spine disability and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability. Service connection was also granted for fecal incontinence.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected back disability and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis, but no higher. The claim for an increased rating for right knee strain with arthritis was denied.