Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and left knee disability, as well as remanded his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's current disability had its onset in service.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, but remanded the claims for a low back disability, sinusitis, and left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a mental health disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee tendinitis, but granted service connection for lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension, left and right shoulder disabilities, back disability, pain and/or fatigue disability (chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia), and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease with nephrolithiasis to obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for the right ankle condition and denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a low back condition to obtain additional evidence and an adequate VA opinion.

The Board remands the claims for new VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as the March 2024 VA examinations were found to be inadequate.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, low back and right shoulder as the conditions were not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the claims for right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and a low back condition for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, finding that no evidence supported an earlier date of claim or entitlement.

The Board denied increased ratings for TMJ dysfunction with arthritis, cervical strain (neck disability), lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with arthritis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, tension headaches, and left thigh impairment. However, a 20 percent rating was granted for left lower radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back disability and related radiculopathies as they require further development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a neck disability as the evidence did not support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board granted restoration of the 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain and denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent. The claims for service connection for a thoracic back condition and TDIU were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis under the PACT Act and remanded other claims for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and chronic bronchitis, but granted service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability.,The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and sinusitis. The claims for hypertension, gout (left foot/toe, right foot/toe, left ankle, right ankle), and obstructive sleep apnea were remanded for further development.

The Board denied an increased disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with IVDS, as the evidence did not show that the condition more nearly approximated forward flexion at 30 degrees or less; or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine; or IVDS with incapacitating episodes of any duration.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbosacral spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions.