Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist strain and lumbosacral strain were granted.

The veteran's effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits is granted as of January 8, 2020.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of back, neck, left knee, right knee, and right ulnar nerve disabilities due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist.

The veteran's claim for lumbosacral strain is being reopened due to new evidence. The claim for right upper extremity radiculopathy was granted and dismissed from appeal. Other claims, including those for a right shoulder condition, back condition, left knee condition, and left upper chest scar, are being remanded for further review.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for higher rating of COPD and service connection for dizziness, left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain due to inadequate examinations and missing records.

Service connection for the veteran's low back, left knee, and left foot disabilities was granted. The issues of right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

Service connection for sinusitis, cervical spine arthritis, and upper extremity radiculopathy was denied. Service connection for OSA, headaches, vertigo, and lumbar spine arthritis was remanded.

The Board remanded the claims for service connection for left hip disorder, right hip disorder, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence does not show the condition began during active service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of OSA, including as secondary to service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, asthma, and IBS. The Veteran's exposure to burn pits was confirmed.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied. The veteran was granted a 30% rating for tension headaches and a 10% rating for irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Other claims were remanded.

The Board remanded the claim for a Toxic Exposure Risk Activity (TERA) medical opinion to determine if OSA is related to toxic exposures and for a new VA medical opinion addressing correct legal standards regarding obesity.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claim for a low back condition was denied. The claims for bilateral knee condition and tinea pedis were remanded for further development.

Service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted.

The veteran's service connection for a back condition is granted based on new and relevant evidence. The claim for service connection for a thyroid condition is denied.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of left lower radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain. The Board found that the January 2023 VA examination was incomplete and inadequate.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because the service-connected disabilities, either alone or in combination, did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis and L4-L5 disc protrusion as secondary to a service-connected knee condition is granted.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's low back and right shoulder disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or relation to service.

The appeal for service connection of a back disability, including as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities, was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.