Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examinations and a need for further evidence regarding service connection for PFB and evaluation of lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, low back strain, right ankle loss of range of motion with laxity and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 4, 2020, for service connection of lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc syndrome with intervertebral disc syndrome is denied. The Board found no formal or informal claim was submitted before this date.

The Board has denied service connection for low back disability, left shoulder condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and bilateral knee conditions due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back, right hip, and right knee conditions due to a pre-decisional error in obtaining sufficient medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that the condition was not incurred in or related to service and did not manifest within one year of discharge.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and bilateral shoulder disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow, back, left hand, and right hand conditions have been dismissed due to procedural defects in the appeal process.

The appeal is dismissed because the March 11, 2021 administrative letter rejecting the Veteran's VA Form 21-526EZ claim was not an appealable decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services provided at Methodist Hospital from August 30, 2018 to August 31, 2018. The authorization was provided by VA prior to the implementation of the Mission Act and the service connection is decided on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's skin condition, back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, right shoulder condition, and right hip condition. The conditions are deemed to have begun during and continued since his active service.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for DJD of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of both lower extremities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn them.

The Board has restored service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease and Intervertebral Disc Syndrome as additional diagnoses to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine strain, and also restored service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to his service-connected low back condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, right shoulder strain, and onychomycosis were denied. The lumbar spine disability was not shown to meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or incapacitating episodes. Right shoulder strain did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to limited flexion. Onychomycosis required only topical therapy.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for the service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis from November 20, 2009.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and verifying the Veteran's reported fall down barracks stairs.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions worsened during a period of inactive duty training (IDT) in January 2016 due to an injury. The Board resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar disability and bilateral foot disability. The appeal regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) is being remanded due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran.