Back / lumbar spine — all decisions

The appeal was dismissed as a matter of law due to the proposed reductions being reversed after a finding of clear and unmistakable error.

The Board finds that the Veteran is in need of personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months due to an inability to complete ADLs such as bathing, dressing himself, and toileting.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, pain of left foot, pain of lumbar spine, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The claims for a respiratory disorder, restless leg syndrome, hypertension, and other conditions were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability, bronchitis, and a right foot disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left lower lumbar radiculopathy, and right lower lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, lumbar spine herniated disc, and bilateral flat feet (pes planus) as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected bilateral knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves, with effective dates from March 15, 2013. The Board also granted a TDIU and DEA based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not support an increase in severity of the preexisting conditions during service or a link to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for right hand strain status-post fracture of the third metacarpal and denied service connection for various other conditions including a right ankle condition, foot disability (torn Achilles tendon), acquired psychiatric disability, ear condition, head injury, left leg disability, and low back disability.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective March 8, 2023, but no earlier. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent prior to June 5, 2023 for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability based on the evidence showing forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was no worse than 45 degrees.

The Board granted an effective date of May 18, 2023 for the grant of service connection for right finger weakness and stiffness.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent rating for GERD with colon cancer, effective December 1, 2024, as it found no actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Board granted an effective date of February 25, 2025 for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and levoscoliosis.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea, and denied a compensable evaluation for a left knee scar. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cluster headaches, and increased ratings for the left knee, back, GERD, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for thoracolumbar strain, restored the 50 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus, and restored basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and joint disorders due to a need for additional evidence and an adequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and reversed the severance of service connection for several conditions, including hypothyroidism, scars status post thyroidectomy and laryngeal cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2, glaucoma, and laryngeal cancer.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The Board granted service connection for a right hip disability, back disability, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy but denied the claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis.