Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection for headaches as secondary to his service-connected depression is granted. The case of the low back disability remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes of the lumbar spine was granted a rating of 40 percent from November 9, 2015 to September 10, 2019. Prior to this period and as of September 10, 2019, the disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and dismissed his appeal for entitlement to total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) as moot due to his receipt of a 100% disability rating.

The Board has withdrawn the appeals for Right Knee and Right Ankle disabilities due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The Low Back Disability appeal is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is rated at 30 percent disabling, and his left ankle tendonitis and fracture are rated at 10 percent disabling. The Veteran was granted TDIU for the appeal period prior to June 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back condition and its relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 7, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his service-connected PTSD. The effective date claim remains denied as there is no evidence of an earlier claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he maintains full-time employment throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various upper and lower extremity disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found no evidence of a cold injury or other in-service event that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine, bilateral knee, left shoulder, right ankle, and right ankle scar disabilities have been granted service connection.,Residuals from a head injury (including traumatic brain injury and headaches) and bilateral detached retinas are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is required. The Veteran's exposure at Camp LeJeune, in-service stressors, and current symptoms will be evaluated.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, femoral radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathies, and diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction. The AOJ is instructed to contact the Veteran's representative for a current mailing address and obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a right foot disability, finding that there is relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether these conditions had their onset during his active service.

The Veteran's low back disability is remanded for further medical guidance to determine if it is related to his active service.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 50 percent since July 21, 2015. The issue of a TDIU prior to September 1, 2016, is now moot due to the temporary 100 percent rating for his right knee replacement.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted with new and material evidence. The issues of right knee disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, adjustment disorder, alcohol use disorder) are all now resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's cervical condition is granted service connection. The rating for lumbosacral strain remains at 40%.,Service connection for lower extremity radiculopathy and TDIU are granted with effective dates of November 5, 2007.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from November 23, 2010 to February 25, 2011. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease, is granted service connection.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted service connection.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted service connection.