Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder strain, lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined rating of 80 percent for these service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for residuals, lumbar spine injury due to inadequate medical opinion and duty to assist error. The Veteran's back disability may have had onset during active duty or a period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's migraines, including migraine variants, are found to be secondary to his service-connected depression.,The Veteran's sciatica of the right and left lower extremities is found to be secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and TDIU are granted, along with SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) for specified periods.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus has been granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his current tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, neck, and low back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions based on the absence of treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues due to an error in docketing within the AMA system.

The Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities have been granted, but his increased rating claims for these conditions are being remanded. Additionally, the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and associated radiculopathy have been granted service connection.,Secondary service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy to the lumbosacral strain has also been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, and psychiatric disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his back condition, finding that the evidence supports a link between his in-service motor vehicle accident and his current back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and related radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve are rated at 20% and 40%, respectively. The Board has found that remand is necessary for further development regarding service connection claims for various joints and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation due to his inability to use assistive devices and lack of loss of use of any extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a back disability due to incomplete medical history and lack of records from his Reserve service. The case will be reviewed with consideration of the Veteran's STRs, lay statements, and any new evidence obtained.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right hand disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's participation in willful misconduct during service is considered a bar to establishing service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lower back degenerative disc disease is remanded due to the need for a new medical examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) as there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his in-service injury. The Board found that the Veteran's back complaints were temporary, acute, and transitory during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected disabilities.,Service connection claims for type II diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability, and PTSD have all been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spondylosis and intervertebral disc syndrome is granted, with a maximum rating of 40 percent. The claim for radiculopathy, left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) is also granted, with a maximum rating of 20 percent.