Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and remanded the issues of service connection for left and right upper extremity neuropathy due to a lack of medical evidence supporting the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining private medical records and requesting addendum opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability was denied as there is no current diagnosis or functional loss.,His peanut allergy claim was denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 6599-6522.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and bowel disturbances (IBS) due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The AOJ did not obtain medical opinions in both cases, which is necessary to determine if there is a link between the conditions and active duty.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 28, 2022 for the grant of service connection for low back disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an eye condition, hypertension, a back condition, and headaches due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, shoulder, elbow, and knee disorders due to a lack of VA examinations and conflicting opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant was denied as none of his service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for such benefits. The appeal for an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment only was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for sickle cell anemia, skin disability (rash), hemorrhoids, and acquired psychiatric disability are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability is also denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition began during service or is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is dismissed because the Veteran was already receiving service connection for this condition effective August 8, 2021. The claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, back disorder, and stomach disorder are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues related to service connection, including headaches, ankle injuries, groin muscle pain, foot disabilities, elbow and knee conditions, lumbar spine issues, and a condition affecting the two middle fingers of the right hand. The Board dismissed the appeal as withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for thoracolumbar spine (back), sleep apnea, and right knee condition as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and lack of discussion regarding the Veteran's assertions.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of lumbar spine disorder and diabetes mellitus type II, warranting readjudication.,The appeal as to the right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed low back disability, specifically spinal stenosis, finding that it had its onset during service and is related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected obsessive compulsive disorder and thoracolumbar spine strain.

The appeal of the service connection for a back disability is dismissed. The issue of secondary service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had continuous symptoms of tinnitus since service and met the requirements for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis and stenosis of the cervical spine, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for MDD, tension headaches, and tinnitus. The lumbar spine disability claim is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating or service connection for any of the claimed conditions.