Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher ratings due to conflicting range of motion measurements in previous examinations. New VA examinations are needed to determine the current severity of his low back, neck, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders were incurred during or as a result of his military service, and thus granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left hip disabilities, as well as an increased rating of 20 percent for lumbar strain. The claim for a temporary total rating based on convalescence is remanded.

The Veteran's surviving spouse was awarded attorney fees based on the full amount of past-due benefits awarded in the May 2023 Rating Decision, rather than the actual amount paid.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder claim is remanded due to new evidence indicating a change in diagnosis from borderline personality disorder to bipolar disorder.,The Veteran's left and right knee disability claims are remanded as there is new evidence of ongoing pain since service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased rating for the listed conditions.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease, finding that the reduction from 40 to 20 percent was improper due to a failure to consider whether there was actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder strain, right wrist injury and associated residuals, and service connection for left sciatica. The Veteran's complaints of functional loss will be considered during the remand process.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been received to readjudicate the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, headaches, head injury, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. The Veteran's request for additional records was not addressed prior to the decision on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disability and head disability. The decision on the back disability claim is final as it was not granted, while the head disability claim is remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sciatica, lower back condition, and bilateral plantar fasciitis as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The VA examinations were inadequate in addressing both causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, lower back condition, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to new evidence submitted after the February 2020 SOC denial.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 11, 2015 for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.,An increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from 10% to 20% is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee, and left ankle.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of the right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, TDIU prior to March 16, 2012, and increased ratings for low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies were granted effective January 7, 2011. The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and essential tremors, as well as his claim for SMC based on aid and attendance needs, are denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disabilities, finding that his current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected right foot drop and right knee disabilities. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's back disability rating was restored from 20% to 40%, effective October 1, 2020.,The Veteran's mental disability rating was restored from 30% to 50%, effective January 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain, left hip condition (secondary to lumbosacral strain), right hip condition (secondary to lumbosacral strain), narcolepsy, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.,The Veteran's thoracic aorta enlargement claim is also being remanded as there may be relevant medical records from his general practitioner that have not been obtained.