Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to clarify the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that these conditions had their onset during active duty. The decision is based on direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to the need for additional information regarding the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine and hip disabilities, as well as for obtaining private treatment records. The issues include higher ratings for lumbar spondylosis, degenerative arthritis of the spine (lumbar spine disability), trochanteric pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis (hip extension), and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck, back, shoulder, hip, and knee disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder, left knee, and bilateral pes planus disorders are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and scoliosis. The appeal regarding a bilateral foot disability is remanded.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection of spondylolisthesis of the back, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine facet joint, tinnitus, and migraine headaches as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and military service.,The appellant's lay statements regarding her symptoms are not sufficient to establish service connection for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, cervical strain (claimed as cervical spine condition), lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, tinnitus, endometriosis, female sexual arousal disorder, and urinary frequency. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are supported by medical evidence linking them to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted effective December 30, 2019.,PTSD benefits were not granted earlier than December 3, 2019.

The reduction of the Veteran's low back disability rating from 20% to 10%, effective February 8, 2021 was improper. The appeal for restoration of the 20% rating is granted. The Veteran's PTSD remains rated at 50%.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the PACT Act requiring a TERA-specific examination and secondary service connection evaluations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The remaining conditions (headaches, left ankle disorder, left knee disorder, left hip disorder, back disorder, cervical spine disorder, tremors of the right upper extremity, tremors of the left upper extremity, anxiety disorder, and depression) were denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's low back disability and sciatic radiculopathy are both remanded for further evaluation as the current VA examination did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.,Service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded, as there is conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, left knee strain, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, and skin disability (manifesting as chronic arm rashes resulting in impairment in earning capacity) on a direct basis.,Reasonable doubt was resolved in favor of the Veteran for all five conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, hypertension, and migraines as there was no AOJ decision on the merits.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine scar was not granted a compensable rating due to the scar area being less than 929 cm².,Service connection for COPD and emphysema were granted based on exposure to burn pits and other toxins during service, as well as fine particulate matter.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis is remanded due to the failure to schedule and conduct a VA examination within the AMA evidentiary window.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for service-connected adjustment disorder is granted at 70 percent, effective June 26, 2017. Effective dates are denied for the other conditions.

The Veteran's back disorder, including IVDS and degenerative scoliosis, is granted as service connected. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is also granted as secondary to the back disorder. The claim for left hip pain is remanded due to a lack of an examination.