Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board remands the matters for the agency of original jurisdiction to obtain outstanding, relevant private medical records.

The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer, dementia, tremors, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and a low back condition.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disability to ensure that VA's duty to assist is properly followed and that the Veteran receives every possible consideration.

The Board granted an effective date of April 22, 2020, for compensable ratings and service connection for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in the right and left lower extremities.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine based on direct service connection.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and alcohol use disorder, finding a nexus to in-service stressors. The other claims are remanded for further evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and chronic sinusitis but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for asthma, cataracts, congestive heart failure, low back pain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to a duty to assist error related to lost or destroyed service treatment records.

The appeal for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus was dismissed, and the claim for an initial disability rating higher than 0 percent for hearing loss was denied. Several claims for service connection were remanded.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, other than intervertebral disc syndrome, and lumbosacral strain; right lower extremity radiculopathy; and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding no evidence of a worsening of his conditions that would warrant an increase in compensation.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, other than intervertebral disc syndrome, and lumbosacral strain; right lower extremity radiculopathy; and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, lower back condition, and neck condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The appeal of the propriety of the reduction from 40 percent to 10 percent disabling, effective May 18, 2021, for service-connected degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and lumbar sacral strain, left hip iliopsoas tendonitis, right hip iliopsoas tendonitis, right knee strain and patellofemoral pain syndrome, and migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. However, DMII was denied.

The appeal was denied due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a foot condition, to include athlete's foot and tinea pedis, as well as radiculopathy of both lower extremities and spondylolisthesis due to insufficient evidence.

The Board grants an initial disability rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for the Veteran's low back disability.

The appeal for an increased rating claim for the low back disability is dismissed.