Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for a back disability and TDIU due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives, including the need for an updated VA examination that considers the Veteran's medical history, particularly his October 2019 emergency room treatment. The examiner is asked to address the severity of the Veteran's back disability, including any flare-ups and functional loss.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and lumbar spine disability have been denied. The issues of entitlement to separate ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy, TDIU, and psychiatric disability secondary to plantar fasciitis are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including GERD, lumbar spine disability, right hip scar, and foot disabilities. The Veteran will need further examinations to determine the severity of his conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, left ankle disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral legs are all granted as service-connected.,There is no specific rating assigned or effective date provided in this decision.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional action due to the possibility that relevant SSA records have not been obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability and right knee disability due to incomplete development of service treatment records, particularly regarding a parachuting accident in 1980. The VA is required to obtain these records and schedule the appellant for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements and lack of supporting evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a back disability, but the VA examiner found too many inconsistencies and insufficient evidence to support the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability, specifically his active duty for training in August 2010. The Veteran needs a new VA opinion to determine if his back disability was incurred during this period.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is now rated at 40 percent effective August 20, 2019. The earlier effective date for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine scoliosis and cervical spine strain due to a material change in severity of his disabilities, requiring further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches and hypertension (high blood pressure), but has remanded the issue of service connection for a low back condition.

An increased 50 percent rating for a thoracic/lumbar spine disability is granted.,Prior to June 21, 2019, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude substantially gainful employment. Since June 21, 2019, his acquired psychiatric disability has made it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.,Since June 21, 2019, the Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of development and further examination. The claims will be reviewed again with additional information from his medical records, participation in TERAs, and other relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back condition, annular fissure at L4-5, and mild degenerative changes of the spine. The disability is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection for hypertension due to a lack of current VA examination reports. The Veteran failed to report for scheduled examinations, which requires denial of these claims without further evidence.

Service connection for a lumbar spine disability currently diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, lumbar spondylosis, and degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc is granted.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is granted. Effective October 30, 2015, a rating of 50 percent, but no higher, for tension headaches is granted.,Effective October 30, 2015, the effective date for service connection for TMJ (claimed as right jaw) is set at July 13, 2004. A TDIU is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower back, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, right knee, left wrist, and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability can be adjudicated. The claims file must be updated with the Veteran's SSA records and earning reports, and the case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.