Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and the need for additional evidence. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are considered, but his lay statements regarding needing aid and attendance are also taken into account.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current disability and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC have been remanded due to the submission of a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) under the legacy system, which has now been accepted by the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and work history prior to May 31, 2016.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain with multilevel osteoarthritis and degenerative changes is rated at 20 percent prior to September 19, 2017, and 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated as 10 percent from November 14, 2017, to December 11, 2022, and 20 percent starting December 12, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to April 3, 2017 are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and examination.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its remand directives and thus additional remand is required to obtain a VA medical opinion addressing whether manifestations of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability are functionally equivalent to either favorable or unfavorable ankylosis.

Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted. Service connection for a back disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition. The claims for PTSD and anxiety disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of stressors and psychiatric examination.

The claim of service connection for a back disorder has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The Veteran's right and left knee disorders are remanded for further examination and rating considerations. The Veteran's back disorder is also remanded to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder and sleep apnea are granted service connection, with the lumbosacral spine disorder rated at 10%.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, PTSD, hypoesthesia of the lateral third of the left lower lip, lumbar strain, irritable bowel syndrome, dermatitis, and bilateral tinnitus are all granted. The Veteran is assigned a 10% rating for each condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's lower back pain and degenerative joint disease were caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ear tympanic membrane scar, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain is denied as the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's DDD claim is remanded to obtain clarification of his radicular symptoms and assess the severity, frequency, and duration of flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a separate headache disability is denied as her headaches are considered part of her existing service-connected sinusitis.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder does not meet the criteria for an increased rating, as it does not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded both claims for service connection due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. However, service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal for service connection of loss of use of bilateral lower extremities due to tetraplegia as secondary to degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine is dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the rating decisions regarding service connection for IBS, low back disability, and TDIU. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.