Back / lumbar spine — all decisions

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disorder to obtain additional medical evidence and ensure that the Veteran is afforded every possible consideration.

The Veteran's service connection for right ankle range-of-motion loss, secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain status post laminectomy and microdiscectomy, was granted. An earlier effective date of March 1, 2016, but no earlier, for the 20 percent rating assigned for lumbar strain status post laminectomy and microdiscectomy was also granted.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for the lumbar spine condition.

The Board granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left elbow sprain, right elbow enthesophyte, left knee strain and enthesophyte, right knee strain, and right leg radiculopathy but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, secondary to the appellant's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD and granted an effective date of May 31, 2004, but no earlier, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis and strain of the thoracolumbar spine, a 20 percent rating for femoral radiculopathy, but denied any higher ratings for sciatic radiculopathy. Special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate was also granted.

The appeal for service connection for degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board restored the 60% rating for degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the lumbar spine, status post fusion, with stenosis and spondylolisthesis. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies were denied.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy of the left arm, back disability, left elbow condition, left shoulder condition, left wrist condition, left hand condition, hypertension, and an initial rating of 10 percent for coronary arteriosclerosis prior to September 24, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, cervical and thoracic spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine condition, erectile dysfunction, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use to allow the AOJ to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis of the cervical spine, migraines, and tinnitus secondary to PTSD.

The Board granted an effective date of July 25, 2022 for the initial rating of 40 percent for a back condition and 10 percent for a sciatic condition.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for effective dates prior to September 27, 2024, for the awards of service connection for various knee and back conditions.

The Board remands the claims for increased initial evaluations of degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, left shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis, and right shoulder degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, assigned a 20% rating for right knee strain with limitation of flexion, denied a compensable rating for right knee strain with limitation of extension, and granted a separate 20% rating for right knee instability. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, and GERD were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's claimed conditions are due to any incident of his period of active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, except for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability which were granted. The veteran was also granted service connection for hypertension.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to a need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and updated VA treatment records.