Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss, scars from thyroidectomy and knee surgery, low back strain, dyshydrosis, and hypothyroidism. It remanded decisions on a left eye chorioretinal scar and right knee benign tumor.

The veteran is granted an effective date of December 29, 2020 for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The claims for earlier effective dates for lumbar spine DDD with IVDS and LLE radiculopathy are dismissed and denied respectively.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the veteran's service-connected lumbar disability.

The veteran's effective date for service connection of lumbosacral strain with IVDS was granted as June 3, 2021.

The claim to readjudicate service connection for a low back disability based on new evidence was granted. However, the claim for service connection for the same disability was denied.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of low back and cervical spine disabilities, including osteoarthritis and IVDS, to include as secondary to hypothyroidism. The Board ordered a new or supplemental examination and opinion.

The veteran's 20 percent rating for thoracolumbar spine disability from May 18, 2014, to July 29, 2019, is restored. The issue of a higher rating is remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was granted. Claims for other disabilities were denied or remanded.

The veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings and service connection for several conditions was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left knee, lumbar spine, and left hand conditions was dismissed because the VA Form 10182 was not filed on time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and related conditions due to deficiencies in the medical opinions and missing records.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) because there is no adequate medical opinion on which to base a decision. The case will be sent back to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a rating higher than 20% for their lumbar condition, stating that the symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain and GERD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, left hip, right hip, and left ankle disabilities were denied. The claim for a back disability was remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating and an earlier effective date for lumbosacral spine degenerative disease.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disorder. The Veteran will undergo a new VA examination to determine the nature and cause of his condition.

The veteran's service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, right hip osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis s/p hip replacement, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The effective date for obstructive sleep apnea is September 29, 2020. The effective date for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and disc displacement is denied earlier than January 4, 2021. The effective date for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is January 4, 2021. An initial evaluation of 30 percent for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and disc placement from January 4, 2021, to November 29, 2021, is granted.