Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities such as left knee instability and lumbosacral strain, rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 12, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant (through his authorized representative) requested withdrawal of all issues involved in the appeal prior to the Board promulgating a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 22, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is found to be related to his service, and he is granted a 30% rating for this condition.,His left knee meniscal tear, right hip arthritis, and left hip arthritis are all found to be aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities, and he is granted a 30% rating for each of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral blepharospasm has been granted service connection. The Veteran's lumbar strain is denied a rating in excess of 20 percent.,Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, and an increased rating for PTSD are both remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and degenerative disc disease L4-L5 is being remanded due to a need for updated examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine DDD.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted based on credible evidence of in-service symptoms and continuity of symptoms following discharge from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to March 31, 2006.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to new evidence indicating worsening of his disabilities, including recent emergency room visits. Additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further evaluation due to insufficient information in previous opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's shoulder and back disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, but the bilateral hip and leg disabilities are inextricably intertwined with this grant. The Veteran's radiculopathy is also related to his thoracolumbar condition. Therefore, the claims for right hip, left hip, right leg, and left leg disabilities must be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not service-connected, and his thoracolumbar spine disability remains at a 40% evaluation. The right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with the thoracolumbar spine disability is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to her service-connected back condition, but remanded other issues including a rating in excess of 20 percent for scoliosis with recurrent lumbar strain and entitlement to separate ratings for left lower extremity conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,His cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee disabilities preclude him from performing the physical activities of his past work.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher rating for his back disorder, which includes a lumbar fusion surgery. The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence and symptom worsening.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee disability post-surgery and another VA examination to determine the severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability. The hearing loss claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or an earlier effective date in several areas, including cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis.