Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that entitlement to service connection did not arise until a March 2018 independent medical examination.

Effective dates of May 22, 1996 are granted for service connection of left knee limitation of flexion and impairment.,Effective dates of April 14, 1998 are granted for service connection of left hip disability and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities due to exposure in the Persian Gulf. The AOJ is directed to obtain additional medical records, including those from private physicians and workers' compensation providers, and to ensure all duty-to-assist errors are corrected.

The Veteran's competency is restored, he is granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance, and his rating for migraines is increased to 60 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and low back disability secondary to service-connected PTSD. The claims of service connection for right heel bone, calcaneus, right foot plantar fasciitis, and trouble walking secondary to right foot plantar fasciitis are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

Your appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it before a decision was made.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine rating has been dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing post-service medical records, which are needed for a proper determination of service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and low back condition due to incomplete records from a private sleep study and failure to obtain service treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence, and VA needs to attempt to retrieve his service records.

The Veteran's paraspinal muscle injury of the thoracic spine, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine were all rated at 40 percent effective April 7, 2016. This was a reduction from noncompensable (0%) to 40%.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis.,Both lower extremity radiculopathy conditions are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar scoliosis on the basis that it was aggravated by service, and for cervical spine stenosis as a result of service-connected cervical spine stenosis. The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is also service connected due to his now service-connected cervical spine stenosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding her claimed conditions, as well as a review of the evidence related to toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development regarding potential exposure to PFAS firefighting foam and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his shoulder conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis, cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis, LLE radiculopathy with foot drop, and RLE radiculopathy with foot drop. The evidence of record does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability with radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational history.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea versicolor. The remaining claims of service connection for a back disorder, left-sided radial nerve disorder, and right ankle disorder are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lumbar spine condition is related to his service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it is directly caused by his service.