Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and lumbosacral strain have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and neurological disorders due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lower back and left knee disabilities, including rating determinations for various periods of time. The case is being returned for further action based on a retrospective opinion addressing the state of the Veteran's disabilities throughout the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and bases, as well as issues related to obtaining medical records. The Veteran's back disorder will be reviewed again with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 3, 2016. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined evaluation of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability was rated at 10 percent from August 10, 1990, to December 25, 2019. The Board denied a higher rating as the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on VA regulations.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and digestive disorder are granted as service-connected, with the latter being considered a chronic undiagnosed illness related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 20 percent since March 3, 2016. The Board denied an increased disability rating in September 2023 and the Court issued a JMPR in July 2024, which remanded the issue to the Board for further consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches secondary to the Veteran's service-connected colon cancer, but denied service connection for a low back disorder and Gulf War Syndrome or undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to clarify the Veteran's diagnoses and determine if his disabilities are related to service. The appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbosacral sprain/strain disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 13, 2023, and denied for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in a previous VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back strain. The matter is now being reviewed for an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain (lumbar spine disability) was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not manifested to unfavorable ankylosis, and thus a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy in both lower extremities are rated at 20% prior to specific dates, with some issues denied for higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not aggravated by his military service and there is no evidence of aggravation beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain, claimed as back sprain and low back strain, is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, claimed as chronic major depression and stress, is denied.

The Board denied service connection for right hand arthritis, left hand disorder, and low back disorder due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or association with service.

Service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, lumbosacral strain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is denied.,Service connection for tension headaches remains pending as it has been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates of service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome and arthritis, right knee, with meniscal tear, and intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine (claimed as low back condition), were denied due to the lack of relevant official service department records that existed and had not been associated with the claims file when VA first decided the claim.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to errors in obtaining relevant private treatment records and a need for additional examination.