Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded two issues: a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for a back disability secondary to service-connected shoulder disabilities. The Veteran needs to undergo new examinations to determine the current severity of his left ear hearing loss and the etiology of his back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain, lumbosacral degenerative disc and joint disease and L3-L4 central spinal canal narrowing, left lower femoral radiculopathy, left lower sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower sciatic radiculopathy due to inconsistencies in the VA examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed as the issues are moot due to a prior grant of benefits in May 2023, and there was an improper concurrent election of multiple review options.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability with arthritis, lumbar spine disability with arthritis, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity due to inadequate opinions in the May 2023 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for a lumbosacral or cervical strain disorder due to insufficient evidence and the need for an examination.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the claim for service connection for lumbosacral and thoracic spine strain with arthritis, stenosis, and scoliosis. The case is remanded for further review.

The Board has found that there is no current disability related to the Veteran's in-service left thigh injury, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The remaining claims of service connection for a left knee condition, a left shin condition, and a lower back condition are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20 percent disability rating for low back disability is granted, while the claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent remains denied.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's current low back disability and her active duty service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease/arthritis of the back and neck due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran contends that his conditions are related to in-service events, including carrying heavy packs and parachuting.

The Board has denied service connection for sickle cell anemia and remanded the remaining claims due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right shoulder, back, and knee disabilities are also being remanded for further development.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The appeal to reduce the rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome from 40 percent to 20 percent is dismissed as no reduction has been effectuated.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The conditions are found to be related to service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from December 10, 2003 to March 24, 2007 due to his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The claims for these conditions are based on direct evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment before January 6, 2017.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability was not found to warrant a higher rating prior to December 8, 2020. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is related to an in-service back injury and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.