Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied ratings in excess of 50 percent for chronic sinusitis, 10 percent for tinnitus, and 30 percent for cervical strain. It granted an initial rating of at least 10 percent for right tibia fracture residuals effective January 26, 2018, and at least 20 percent effective June 2, 2021. The Board remanded several other issues including secondary service connection claims.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for spinal stenosis and arthropathy of lumbar facet joint due to an inadequate VA opinion that did not address the Veteran's lay statements of continuous symptoms since service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain (claimed as lower back pain) to obtain a medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for deviated septum status post septoplasty is dismissed as moot. The initial ratings higher than 20 percent for cervical strain, 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, and 10 percent for left wrist, right index finger, and right long finger strains are denied. An initial compensable rating for headaches is also denied.

The appeal for service connection for left hip and right wrist conditions is dismissed as moot because the benefits were granted.,The appeals for service connection for right hand/fingers and right lower extremity sciatica radiculopathy are denied due to lack of evidence supporting a diagnosis.,Service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder conditions is granted based on onset during active service.,Initial ratings for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and hemorrhoids are denied as the criteria were not met.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, a right hip disorder, a left hip disorder, a back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety, as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, granted an effective date of December 29, 2017, for TDIU and DEA benefits, and remanded the issue of a compensable evaluation for scar, post lumbar laminectomy.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for various conditions, as the claim was received on June 15, 2023.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lower back disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and internal and external cutaneous nerve radiculopathies. However, it granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in both lower extremities from April 1, 2020, and awarded TDIU effective February 1, 2019.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, lumbosacral strain (claimed as back injury), mental health disorder, and right knee condition due to untimely filing of a notice of disagreement.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for a new examination to address service connection and increased rating issues.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities, a left elbow disability, a low back disability, and right and left knee disabilities based on evidence showing that these conditions are related to his active-duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between his current condition and his military service or any of his service-connected conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric conditions and physical issues, due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's low back, left knee, right knee, and obstructive sleep apnea disabilities as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board granted service connection for rectal scarring, rash, and discomfort due to an in-service sexual assault. The claims for other conditions were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the matter for a new VA examination to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, including whether there is any associated radiculopathy.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to May 4, 2016, and a 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity prior to January 2, 2015. The claims for higher ratings were denied in other periods.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including OSA, bilateral hearing loss, shoulder and spine disabilities, right foot disability, CAD, HTN, and gallbladder removal residuals.