Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical evidence and issues related to radiculopathy of both lower extremities. The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent, but there are separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, right and left ankle disorders, and right and left knee disorders are remanded due to the need for updated examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, left wrist condition, left hand condition, and left hip condition due to incomplete or speculative medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for thoracolumbar spine spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, anxiety and depression, and PTSD due to new evidence received since the last final rating decisions. The claims are being reopened as there is now sufficient evidence to suggest a current disability may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, neck, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their onset during service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a rating higher than 20 percent for left lumbar radiculopathy. The Veteran's claim for a rating higher than 20 percent for his left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran's last day of work was April 13, 2013. The Board found that she was no longer able to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to her service-connected back condition within the one-year period prior to filing her TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement and degenerative AC joint disease, right eye disability (retinal disorder, cataracts, blepharitis, dry eye syndrome, macula scars of posterior pole), 4th and 5th left toe stress fracture residuals, and cervical spine disability. Service connection was denied for a right wrist/hand disability and left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, low back spondylosis/arthritic conditions, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and sinusitis. The issues of service connection for right knee strain and left knee strain are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from September 6, 2011 to September 19, 2023 and at 40 percent from September 20, 2023 to the present. The Board denied higher ratings for these periods.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, as well as granted remand of the rating decisions for thoracolumbar degenerative disc condition, respiratory condition (including asthma and COPD), migraines, and TBI with photophobia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. Additionally, the claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status is also being remanded due to inextricability with these other claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis.

Service connection for low back pain, diagnosed as degenerative disc changes is granted. Service connection for lumbar pelvic dysfunction is denied. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for service connection of right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as lumbosacral strain. The Board finds that an effective date of April 25, 2016 is warranted for the Veteran's bilateral lower radiculopathy.,The Veteran also seeks higher disability ratings for his back and leg conditions. The Board finds a remand necessary to determine the current severity of these disabilities.

The appeal is being remanded due to an inaccurate factual premise regarding the MVA and a need for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to July 12, 2023 and 40 percent thereafter. The right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve are each rated at 20 percent. The left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent effective January 9, 2017. All other issues related to knee disabilities have been denied.