Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and levoscoliosis is being remanded due to procedural issues related to the appeal form used.

The Veteran's ascending aortic aneurysm is rated at 100% effective February 16, 2016. His hypertension is rated at 20%. The remaining conditions are all rated at the maximum allowed under their respective diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for low back disability was denied, and the Board granted a TDIU from June 29, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disorder and left knee disorder to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions will be evaluated, along with his in-service duties as an Aircraft Fuel Systems Technician.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation higher than 20 percent for his degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with residual erectile dysfunction has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no direct evidence linking his current condition to his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence of continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Veteran's low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated, with some issues remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including right shoulder, right knee, naval hernia, bladder incontinence, anxiety disorder, and back disability, are not service-connected as they do not have a direct causal relationship to her active duty service.

The Veteran's left elbow disability is granted service connection. For the period on appeal, her back disability was rated at 40 percent for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with annular tear and increased to 20 percent for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in both lower extremities prior to October 18, 2023.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims for various disabilities, including heart disability, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, stroke, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, kidney disease, left knee disability, liver disease, neck disability, radiculopathy, right and left lower extremities, skin disability with trophic changes, and tinnitus. The claims are remanded due to the need for updated medical records and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination report, and a new examination is required.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion addressing the severity of the Veteran's low back disorder throughout the appeal period. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the other claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee meniscal tear was denied as the flexion limitation did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions not preventing him from obtaining and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right-elbow condition is rated as noncompensable due to limited extension.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.,The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and no higher.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, is proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right rotator cuff tear is now rated at 30 percent, and his lumbosacral spondylosis with lumbar strain is now rated at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot disorder and lower back disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case is now before the Board again.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are less than total when considering his combined schedular rating and the fact that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.