Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Court vacated the Board's decision denying service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, including as due to a service-connected disability. The case is dismissed because there is no remaining final Board decision with which to request revision.

The Veteran's initial 20 percent rating for left shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy and lumbar spine herniated nuclear pulposus with degenerative disc disease and degenerative changes is granted, effective from April 5, 2011 to September 14, 2012. A higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to lack of compliance with examination requirements, need for new evidence, and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and requests for additional evidence. The Veteran's low back disability is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his tension headaches was granted, with a 30 percent rating effective October 1, 2014. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral intervertebral disc displacement is rated at 10 percent prior to May 5, 2018, and at 40 percent thereafter. The claim for higher ratings is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding that his symptoms have been consistent since his 2007 deployment and supported by medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, bilateral CTS, and tinnitus are service-connected. However, due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran currently has sciatica, a remand is necessary for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, bilateral ankles, and lower back conditions are remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding secondary service connection. The claims will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been granted a 40 percent disability rating for the entirety of the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected low back disability is denied. The reduction from 40 to 20 percent assigned for the post-operative residuals of compression fracture of the lumbar spine with limitation of motion and degenerative disc disease was not proper.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for the appellant's lumbar spine disability, effective May 10, 2018. The right shoulder scars are rated at 10 percent since March 24, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent effective November 18, 2017. The rating reflects the Veteran's limited range of motion and pain without ankylosis or other severe functional impairment.

The Board has remanded several issues related to effective dates and initial disability ratings for various disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee derangement, surgical scar from right nephrectomy, and TDIU. The AOJ is instructed to readjudicate these issues with consideration of all evidence added since the April 2020 statement of the case.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting new VA examinations. The claims are being remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbar myositis, residuals of a fracture of the little finger of the right hand, and traumatic arthritis of the ring finger of the left hand. The appellant's conditions are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions are inadequate and the claims for service connection must be remanded again. The Veteran's left knee, right shoulder, back, bilateral ankles, and erectile dysfunction disabilities are being reviewed to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disabilities, specifically residuals of a compression fracture of the L1 vertebra and degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, as secondary to his service-connected right knee instability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and remanded it due to the need for additional VA examinations. The claims for service connection for fibromyalgia are also remanded.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection as they are related to his service-connected lumbar spine strain. The Veteran's left hip condition is remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient opinions in the previous examinations.