Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability, specifically whether it is related to service or pre-existed service. The examiner needs to provide a clear opinion on this matter.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot/ankle disabilities, based on evidence that these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected left foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for assessing the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, including range of motion measurements and flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability, left hip scar residuals, and determine if he is entitled to a prior effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected psychiatric disability and its impact on the claimed ankle, carpal tunnel syndrome, foot, cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, and right knee disabilities.,Specifically, a VA examination will be conducted to determine if any of these disabilities are related to or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, bilateral hip condition, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims regarding his lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy are being remanded due to conflicting statements regarding ambulation in the VA examination reports.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide the claims for service connection and rating increases. The Veteran's VA treatment records, CAPRI records, and examinations are being requested.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was denied, and his claim for service connection for a foot disorder was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disorder, hepatitis C, back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for various disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,A 10 percent rating is granted for his hernia scar due to pain.,The Veteran's TBI is currently rated as non-compensable. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for his headache disorder secondary to TBI.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating for any of his conditions.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the issue of service connection for a low back disorder, which was previously remanded. The case will be returned to the RO for further review.

The Veteran's back condition, which includes degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, is granted a disability rating of 40 percent from January 23, 2012 to May 30, 2013. This decision resolves an earlier denial by the Board.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to new and material evidence, but has denied the claim on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service. However, it denied service connection for a low back disability, concluding that there is no evidence linking the current condition to his military service.,Service connection was granted for the right ankle disability based on medical opinions indicating an in-service injury and chronic conditions post-service. The low back disability claim was denied due to lack of evidence connecting the current condition to service.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for coccydynia, post-operative (lumbar spine disability) is granted at a 20 percent level since September 2, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions. The issues include psychiatric, back, knee, and visual acuity disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current criteria.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 30 percent and the Board denied an increased rating.