Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and back strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since August 2007. The Board has determined that a TDIU is warranted on an extraschedular basis prior to May 11, 2011.

Service connection for migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and Sjogren’s syndrome is denied.,An earlier effective date of May 31, 2005 for the grant of service connection for back disability is granted. A rating in excess of 20 percent for back disability remains denied.,Ratings in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are denied from August 15, 2016 to February 6, 2020. Ratings of 40 percent, but no higher, are granted beginning February 7, 2020.,Service connection for tinnitus is not granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) because of the need for aid and attendance, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disorder was granted with an effective date of April 4, 2016. The Board found that the earlier effective date is not warranted due to lack of factual ascertainability prior to this date. Service connection for OSA remains pending as remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted with a 30 percent rating, and his right upper extremity radiculopathy was granted with a 20 percent rating. Other issues were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted service connection. The right and left wrist conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for low back pain, finding that it is aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right total knee replacement.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for reopening service connection for a back disability is granted, and the Board also grants service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected low back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for new examinations to evaluate his low back, ankle, radiculopathy, neck, elbow, and upper extremity disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for headaches and back disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The appeals will be reconsidered with new evidence or a VA examination.

The Board has remanded both claims of service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for right knee disability due to the need for new examinations and opinions.

The Board denied increased ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease with spinal stenosis, right leg distal tibia and fibula fracture with traumatic arthritis, and right eye diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity and back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted, but his other conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records and new examinations are needed to assess his current diagnoses and determine if they are related to active duty.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for increased ratings are denied. The Board also remanded issues regarding service connection for knee disabilities.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, but has remanded the issue to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and residuals of a paraspinal tumor are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from being able to work in an office setting.