Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional records, including SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine disability and left upper extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or impairment due to pain, weakness, fatigability, or incoordination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and cervical spine disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, middle and lower back, and upper back disorders due to alleged in-service incidents. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence that her service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions like sciatica and tinnitus, rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 4, 2009. From November 4, 2009 onwards, the Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as she had a single service-connected disability (PTSD) rated at 100%, and other disabilities that did not render her unemployable.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for post-concussive headaches and remanded the issues of increased ratings for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability prior to March 9, 2017, and from March 9, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back disability, limited his capacity for activity and sitting sufficiently to make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 29, 2014. The Board granted a TDIU from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability began in service and is granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disorder and bladder disorder have been denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic disability in service or within the applicable presumptive period, nor did it find continuity of symptomatology since service.,For the period prior to July 18, 2018, TDIU was denied as the Veteran's combined disability rating was 40 percent and did not meet the criteria for schedular consideration. For the period beginning July 18, 2018, TDIU was granted due to his PTSD with alcohol use disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left wrist strain and migraine headaches, but granted a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches effective October 14, 2016. The Board also denied service connection for sciatica, back disability, and left ankle disability.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is now rated at 40 percent from January 21, 2020.,Radiculopathy affecting the right femoral nerve was granted a 10 percent rating effective August 4, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back disability have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his cervical spine, lumbar spine, left wrist, and mandible fracture disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the etiology of the low back disorder. The examiner must consider the Veteran's reports and provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the low back disorder had onset in, or is otherwise related to, active service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is being remanded for a more contemporaneous examination to assess the current nature and severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete development, specifically regarding periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including knee disorders and numbness due to undiagnosed illness or other causes, have been remanded by the Board. The appeal is not about service connection but rather about evaluating existing disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and increased ratings for her right hip, right knee, left knee, and thoracolumbar strains. The issues of entitlement to a TDIU have also been remanded.