Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate evaluations by VRCs, and a new evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran has an employment handicap or serious employment handicap.

The Board has found that the Veteran's migraine headaches are not related to his active service. The lumbar spine and bilateral foot conditions have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to November 27, 2009. The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, right and left knee disabilities, left foot disability, headaches secondary to PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of upper extremities, herpes, cervical spine disability (secondary to PTSD), right and left hip pain, and hypertension. The only condition granted was an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD, depression, anxiety and other stressor related disorder).

The appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for a lower back condition is dismissed. The issues of entitlement to service connection for any right lower extremity disability and a right elbow injury are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions and lumbar strain have been granted service connection.,A rating of 10 percent has been assigned for the right wrist condition.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development due to the submission of new evidence, including VA treatment records and examination reports. The Veteran did not respond to a request to waive review by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back condition, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after resolving the issue of service connection for the Veteran's back condition.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability in the form of lumbar spinal stenosis and right lower extremity radiculopathy resulting from April 2010 VA lumbar spine surgery, finding that there was no additional disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right knee, left knee, and ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30 percent effective August 11, 2021. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,A 40 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability is granted from August 25, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in medical opinions and lack of complete records. The Veteran's back disorder and bilateral foot skin disorders are being reviewed again.

The Board has determined that additional records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. Specifically, VA and private treatment records from various sources need to be obtained.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease with neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, and a back disability are remanded due to the absence of a copy of his Social Security Administration (SSA) decision in the claims file.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities due to incomplete records. The thoracolumbar disability claim is denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's service-connected MDD is granted, and his back disability remains at a 20 percent rating. The left ankle posttraumatic synovitis continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and hypertension have been denied. The effective date of the TDIU award is June 1, 2017.,Service connection was not granted for PTSD as it did not meet the criteria for direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical, lumbar, and thoracic spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or were caused by his military service.