Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, and tinnitus. The diagnoses are based on the Veteran's in-service injuries and post-service medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for reductions in disability ratings and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing their appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The issue will be readjudicated, and a VA examination will be required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain and torn ACL-left knee due to errors in verifying her periods of active duty training (ADT) and inactive duty training (IDT). The Veteran is asked to clarify whether she contends her back condition had onset during service or a period of ADT or IDT. A medical opinion will be obtained to determine the nature and likely cause of any back disability, including considering all relevant service treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, low back disability, and OSA) prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches and hemorrhoids have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has continuously suffered from these conditions since his military service.,For the knee conditions, the Board denied service connection as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease leading to current disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right thumb arthritis and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 10 percent.,Service connection for plantar fasciitis of the left foot as secondary to lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis is remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lower back condition was not addressed in the April 2022 rating decision and has not been addressed by the AOJ since the November 2016 rating decision. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain as secondary to his service-connected left foot disability, finding that the current condition is caused and/or aggravated by this service-connected condition.

The Board has denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar of the lower lumbar spine, as there is only one such scar and it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal regarding attorney fees for past-due benefits awarded in a May 2021 rating decision is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran and his former attorney, E.A.G.D., agreeing that she should not be entitled to any fees.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his disabilities and active service. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if any of his claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy prior to January 25, 2022 are dismissed as the March 31, 2022 VA Form 10182 was not interpreted as an opt-in to the modernized system.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and duty-to-assist errors. The issues include bullous disorder/hypertrophic keloid scars, left knee septic condition as secondary to bullous disorder/hypertrophic keloid scars, acquired psychiatric disorders, high blood pressure, arthritis of the lower extremities, degenerative disc disease of the low back, and jaw/speech impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has remanded for further evaluation due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The lumbar spine disability remains at 40 percent, RLE radiculopathy at 20 percent, LLE radiculopathy at 10 percent, and RLE femoral nerve radiculopathy at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the Board has determined that they do not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence of record.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was also rated at 10 percent, with the Board finding no basis for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left shoulder disorder and a lumbar spine disorder. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his service.

The Veteran's arthritis, low back disability, and right upper extremity neuropathy were not incurred in or caused by service.,A 30 percent rating for cluster headaches (formerly tension headaches) is granted as of July 16, 2021.