Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability, specifically his service connection claim. The VA will need to provide an additional opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since April 20, 2015. The Board finds the evidence of record provides a foundational basis to refer the matter for extraschedular consideration because the evidence suggests that the Veteran’s service-connected back and cervical disabilities may have prevented substantially gainful employment prior to April 20, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mechanical low back pain, knee conditions, and radiculopathy, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in prior examinations and incomplete medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability and thoracolumbar spine disc bulge due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as there is no evidence showing that his employment status is related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's claim that his thoracolumbar spine disability is related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to issues with her bilateral plantar fasciitis and low back disability. The case will be further developed before a decision can be made.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot disorder to include plantar fasciitis and low back disorder, finding that the current disabilities are not related to any disease or injury incurred during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in line of duty or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) in line of duty while in the United States Naval Reserves.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches, back condition, neck condition, and left shoulder condition as there is no evidence of chronicity in service or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination in 2017, and a new opinion is required.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for the Veteran's spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to unresolved development needs. The appeal is not about service connection, but rather rating determinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to his death prior to a decision.

The Veteran's lumbar laminectomy with IVDS is currently rated as 40 percent disabling before August 1, 2017, and 20 percent thereafter. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran’s recurrent ganglion cyst on the left wrist was initially noncompensable prior to March 15, 2013, and rated as 10 percent disabling thereafter. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the right lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the left lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran’s sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was initially granted a separate rating of 10 percent effective January 7, 2010. The claim for a higher rating has been denied from August 1, 2017 onwards.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran’s sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was initially granted a separate rating of 10 percent effective January 7, 2010. The claim for a higher rating has been denied from August 1, 2017 onwards.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,Prior to December 1, 2016, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational background. The claim for TDIU prior to this date has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete information regarding his employment status, which may impact the determination of TDIU. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records and complete VA Form 21-8940 from the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted as his back condition was noted in service and he has complained of symptoms since then.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory disorders, sinusitis, rhinitis, and bilateral otitis media were not granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is denied because he does not meet the criteria of having a single service-connected disability rated as 100% and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60%. The Board found that his housebound status was not due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left hip disorder and back disorder due to insufficient medical evidence. The case will be returned for further development.