Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis and cervical spine degenerative disc disease have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for prurigo nodularis as secondary to PTSD. The cases of hypertension, left shoulder disorder, thoracolumbar disorder, and a skin disorder other than the service-connected prurigo nodularis are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an open medical question regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar strain disability manifests in a degree of disability that would be the functional equivalent of ankylosis, which may warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's chronic low back strain was restored to a 50 percent rating, effective November 30, 2017. The claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), and left lower extremity (femoral nerve) were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and remanded the knee disabilities due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical records and inconsistencies in diagnoses.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability and a low back disability. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back condition, including degenerative arthritis, finding that it had its onset during service and continues to persist.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis and left ankle stress fracture, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional VA examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, as there have been recent developments in his medical records and he and his representatives believe the current rating is inadequate.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left foot, left knee, and low back disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine arthritis is related to his active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a 40 percent rating effective August 28, 2023.,A separate 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is also granted, effective from January 6, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected chronic low back strain with degenerative disc disease and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 21, 2017. The remand includes requests for additional VA examinations and for obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal fusion, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted initial 40 percent ratings effective March 5, 2019. TDIU eligibility is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence submitted by his representative.

The Veteran's low back disability is not rated higher than 40 percent due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.,Left and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent, with no higher rating possible based on the criteria provided.,Service-connected psychiatric disability was granted a 50 percent evaluation prior to December 16, 2023, but denied any rating in excess of 70 percent beginning that date.