Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's low back disorder is rated at a 20 percent disability rating from August 24, 2004 to March 25, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected lower back condition does not render him unemployable, and he is denied entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran will need new examinations that comply with Correia and Sharp standards.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA, depression, lumbar spine DJD, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE), and condyloma acuminatum due to inconsistencies in medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for cervical spine DDD and lumbar DJD, as well as the claim for TDIU, is being remanded due to issues with the timeliness of her Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding the May 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability and left upper extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded as part of this process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot disorder as secondary to residuals of left ankle fracture, low back disability, and gastrointestinal (GI) disability. The case was remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, mid-back, upper back, and neck disabilities. The Veteran's current back or neck problems are not related to his military service.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (related to dystonia) was also denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his back disability is being remanded due to the failure of VA to provide a current VA examination as per previous Board directives.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine scoliosis with mild degenerative disease and osteophytes, the rating in excess of 20 percent for post-operative right ankle Achilles tendon repair, and the rating in excess of 10 percent for both right and left knee patellar tendonitis were denied. Service connection for gout was also denied.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum allowed under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is aggravated by their service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his thoracolumbar spine disorder is being remanded due to the need for an SSOC based on additional evidence received since the September 2019 SOC.

The appeals seeking increased ratings for depression, right ankle degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, and reopening claims for diabetes mellitus, gout, and left ankle condition have been dismissed.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back condition, bilateral flat feet, and right and left lower leg/foot conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that it is related to his service-connected bilateral patellofemoral syndrome. The decision also reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disorders were denied service connection as they are not shown to be related to his military service.,Service connection for a skin disorder was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to herbicide exposure during service.

Your bilateral shoulder disorder and low back disorder have been granted service connection. Your neck disorder and depressive disorder (secondary to service-connected disabilities) are denied.,The Board has remanded your claims for a right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, headache disorder, left lower extremity amputation as secondary to service-connected disability, left hip disorder as secondary to service-connected disability, low back disorder, total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU), automobile and other conveyance and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, effective date prior to October 7, 2013 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus, and effective date prior to October 7, 2013 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims involving the Veteran's neck and right knee disabilities, as well as his low back disability. The decision on these issues is pending further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinion and failure to address MRI testing as requested by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spur of the right foot have been denied.

The Board denied a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis prior to September 7, 2007 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not rendering him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.