Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for her 40 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for her 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is denied.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability remains pending and requires additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding records. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for his back disability and TDIU prior to September 19, 2018 are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including tension headaches, allergic rhinitis, asthma with histoplasmosis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome were denied. The Veteran was not granted higher ratings or initial compensable ratings for several of her conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include a low back disability and bilateral hip disabilities, with the latter potentially related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for spondylolisthesis and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as left inguinal hernia, was granted. The right inguinal hernia status post repair is also granted with a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for PTSD and low back disorder (claimed as back condition) is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD prior to November 12, 2015, and beginning November 12, 2015, is also dismissed. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his low back disorder (claimed as low back condition) is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a deficiency in the VA examination report regarding the severity of the service-connected low back strain. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for an appropriate clinician's examination to determine the current severity and provide information about flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a cervical spine condition due to its potential secondary nature to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claim will be further developed.

An initial 10 percent rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PSB) is granted beginning January 21, 2020. Service connection for a disability of the low back is denied.,Service connection for left and right knee disabilities is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral flat feet, calcaneal spurs, lumbar spondylolysis L5 with spondylolisthesis, rheumatoid arthritis (indicated by radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities), tinnitus, and hiatal hernia, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as of January 11, 2023. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for eye disability (blurred vision), low back disability, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to procedural errors in the initial decision.

The appeals for increased ratings for right and left knee conditions, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine DJD have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal of these issues.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for lumbar spine conditions, radiculopathies, shoulder conditions, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The appeals are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and musculoskeletal disabilities are found to be the cause of his obstructive sleep apnea. His back disability is granted with a 40% rating from September 23, 2020 onwards for the period prior to that date he was rated at 20%. The left and right lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are also granted with a 40% rating each.

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.