Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee incomplete ligament tear and strain with degenerative arthritis post ACL reconstruction are currently rated at 10 percent each, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's left knee strain and lumbosacral strain are also rated at 10 percent each.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and cannabis use was granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent. Other service connection claims were denied or remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 11, 2023, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome - lumbar spine associated with left knee strain has been dismissed due to a withdrawal request.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar osteoarthritis and has remanded the issue of service connection for atrial fibrillation as secondary to hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist. The issues of dental disability, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea are all being reviewed again.

The Veteran's service-connected rhinitis and acne disabilities are currently rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to June 28, 2013, for service connection of his spinal disability. The claim was received on that date and the Board found it appropriate as the effective date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to consider the appropriate initial evaluations for his service-connected low back disabilities and radiculopathy of the bilateral sciatic nerves, including consideration of whether a higher rating may be assigned under all applicable former and current Diagnostic Codes. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back disability, foot disability (drop foot), hand disability (numbness in the hand), neck disability, right knee disability, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board has remanded the claims of eye disability and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the sciatic nerve have been rated based on their current manifestations. The appeal is remanded for further development.,TDIU on an extraschedular basis has also been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inadequacy of a VA medical examination regarding the severity and functional loss during flare-ups or repeated use of his lumbosacral strain with disc narrowing (claimed as low back pain).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his low back strain is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the April 2022 VA examination in assessing the severity of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's low back strain disability is granted an increased rating of 20 percent, but no greater. The adjustment disorder with depressed mood due to joint pain of the low back strain, bilateral knees, bilateral shoulders, and left ankle strain is granted a 50 percent initial rating, but no greater.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, frostbite of the left foot and toes, insomnia (claimed as sleep disorder), laceration of chin with resulting scar, left degenerative hip, right degenerative hip, chronic left knee disability, chronic right knee disability, and low back pain. The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural issues. The effective date of March 9, 2018, is granted for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal for acid reflux was dismissed. The Board remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder condition, a lower back condition, and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, secondary to the lower back condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of recent VA examinations and outstanding records. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are both being examined again, and his TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to a failure to comply with an October 2019 Board decision regarding transfer of paper records into VBMS.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for a sleep disorder, finding insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the current medical evidence.