Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has denied increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis and right knee spurring, with the case being remanded for further development regarding a separate rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The appeals for increased disability ratings and TDIU were dismissed due to the Appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings due to insufficient evidence, and no rating is granted at this time.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from February 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016. However, the Board denied TDIU for the period January 1, 2017 to May 16, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of lumbosacral strain (claimed as lower back pain) has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The veteran's appeals for TDIU prior to July 15, 2008 and service connection for right knee, bilateral wrist, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities have been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and actinic keratosis due to further development being needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he failed to complete the required VA Form 21-8940 and there is insufficient evidence to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board granted a TDIU effective November 8, 2019.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, which were previously remanded by the Board. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is rated at 60 percent since August 31, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 10, 2015. Effective May 29, 2013, the Veteran was granted SMC based on his left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of ischemic heart disease and service connection for a back condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative arthritis with lumbar spasm and IVDS is rated at 40 percent prior to June 5, 2014, and the Board has remanded this issue for further development.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatica is rated at 10 percent. The Board has also remanded this issue for further development.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatica prior to June 5, 2014 and bladder impairment associated with lumbosacral degenerative arthritis are both remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to December 31, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to November 30, 2015 was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria and there is no evidence of inability to perform sedentary employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that continuity of symptomatology had not been established and that the current disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine disability and degenerative joint disease of the left knee from March 7, 2012 to August 16, 2020 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.