Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) for the period prior to September 17, 2013, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for the same condition from September 17, 2013, as additional medical evidence is needed.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher rating for a low back disability and entitlement to a TDIU due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and lumbosacral strain, but denied service connection for various other back, neck, shoulder, knee, wrist, ankle, and foot disabilities.

The Board denied the claims for an increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, metatarsalgia, left elbow lateral epicondylitis, left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain. The claims for service connection were remanded due to missing records.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and a back disability, as the April 2024 decision was issued for backfill purposes only and did not constitute an adjudicative determination from which a Notice of Disagreement could be filed.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for restoration of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, and for compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, eczema, left and right lower extremity nerve disabilities, and scars of the head, face, or neck.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal of the propriety of the proposed disability evaluation reduction for a lumbar spine disability is dismissed due to it being a mere proposal, not a final determination.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 31, 2020 for a TDIU but denied earlier effective dates for the service connection of lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lower back and left leg conditions, as an examination is needed to determine their etiology.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain based on the evidence showing pain and muscle spasms, which are accounted for by the current 10 percent rating.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder as further development is needed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including missing Reserve records and outstanding SSA records.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and radiculopathy, right lower extremity, to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the nature and etiology of any current back disorder and associated radiculopathy.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to January 25, 2024, and a rating in excess of 30 percent from that date for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, as well as a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to January 25, 2024, and a rating in excess of 40 percent from that date for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease.

The Board dismissed the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and an effective date earlier than May 8, 2014, for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine DDD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for a low back disability, PTSD, and epididymitis.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for a low back disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and entitlement to a TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no medical nexus between the current condition and service.

The appeal for service connection for low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy has been withdrawn by the Veteran.