Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's SMC rating was reduced from the aid and attendance rate to the housebound rate, but this reduction is now reversed as it did not meet the criteria for a reduction.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for various disabilities, but has remanded them for further development and examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, but denied his claims for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and hypertension.

The Veteran's spinal stenosis, post laminectomy syndrome, spinal cord stimulator, and lumbar spine condition is determined to be the result of service. Service connection for these conditions has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied, with the exception of a grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder (claimed as anxiety and depression).,The reduction in rating from 20% to 10% for lumbar strain with IVDS was found to be improper.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease and IVDS is granted, with a disability rating of 40 percent effective from December 5, 2017. The appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as sleep apnea due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided with VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disabilities had onset in service or are otherwise related to service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a medical examiner that addresses these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he asserts are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and requires a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of any diagnosed back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of compression deformity of the cervical spine with degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis is denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date possible was October 29, 2021.

The Veteran's TDIU based solely on his major depressive disorder is granted.,The reduction of the Veteran's rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine from 40% to 20%, effective January 9, 2018, was improper and has been restored.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical spine strain, right knee strain, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder strain as the evidence does not support a relationship to service or within one year of separation.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right index finger disability residual to injury, low back disability (lumbar radiculopathy), left hip disability, right hip disability, and left knee and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back condition and denied an earlier effective date for service connection. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's disability increased in severity within one year prior to June 1, 2022.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for various conditions, including chronic dizziness, major depression, CFS, nerve damage, spine condition, and sick sinus syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there is no competent evidence suggesting a causal relationship between his current disability and an in-service injury. The VA examinations provided negative nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his military service.