Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board dismissed all the issues on appeal, including service connection claims and rating appeals for various conditions.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including heart condition, diabetes, and back condition. The Veteran's service records need to be verified, as well as her exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his spine condition as secondary to his left foot condition due to lack of competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his thoracolumbar disability (DDD of the lumbar spine and thoracic spine strain) is being remanded due to an inadequate VA examination. A new examination is needed to assess the severity and manifestations of his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome, sciatica of the right lower extremity, and bilateral femoral radiculopathy due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted with an effective date of October 31, 2010. The Board found the Veteran stopped working on that date due to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the discovery of relevant, official service department records that existed and had not been associated with his claims file at the time of prior decisions.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 14, 2012 for the assignment of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities since March 14, 2012.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis, is granted as service-connected. The back and neck disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the cases for further development, including obtaining a new examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain is rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the current condition is not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and carpal tunnel syndrome due to a lack of VA examination opinions. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to active military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy associated with service-connected cervical spine strain has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for back and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral lumbar radiculopathy, and scar do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional information from the Veteran.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is granted for low back disability. The Veteran reported experiencing pain during service and has continued since then.