Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and right elbow lateral epicondylitis based on the Veteran's combat service in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip, knee, leg, neck and upper back, and shoulder disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or nexus to active service.

The appeals regarding an increased rating for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder are dismissed as they are duplicative of claims already pending in the modernized review system.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back condition and neck condition to schedule VA examinations as there is evidence of an in-service incident and current symptoms, but no medical opinion linking the conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, and right shoulder strain and degenerative arthritis as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease secondary to the Veteran's left inferior and superior ramus stress fractures and bilateral pes planus.

The Board remands the claim for a supplemental medical opinion to address the Veteran's report of in-service back pain and training exercises.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral disc narrowing as it was found to be caused by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle and bilateral knee conditions.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for a scar, status-post laminectomy, and denied increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities prior to January 4, 2022. However, it granted a 20% evaluation from that date for both conditions.

The Board granted readjudication of the service connection claim for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, but remanded the claims for radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and scarring of the lumbar spine as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right leg conditions.

The Board granted a 10 percent disability evaluation for cervical strain with spondylosis and restored the 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain with lumbar disc disease, while denying higher ratings for all other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder was granted a rating of 50 percent prior to August 18, 2021, and denied a higher rating from that date. The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for distal left fibula was withdrawn.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of various conditions to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the October 2021 rating decision and the July 2022 HLR rating decision on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, back, and tinnitus disabilities. Service connection was also granted for prostate cancer and vocal cord cancer due to exposure to jet fuel, fumes, and smoke. An acquired psychiatric disorder was granted as secondary to the Veteran's orthopedic conditions.

The Board denied the applications to revise a March 2021 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for various claims of service connection, finding no evidence that the correct facts were not before the RO or that the applicable statutory and regulatory provisions were incorrectly applied.

The Board denied service connection for hiatal hernia, erectile dysfunction, and migraines but granted service connection for left hip disability (degenerative arthritis) and earlier effective dates for certain conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a left hip disability, right hip disability, low back disability, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a back condition to obtain an opinion on whether it is caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disorder, both related to the Veteran's military service. The claims for a low back disorder and a brain tumor were remanded for further development.