Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective October 6, 2021, but no earlier.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar disability. The cases are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has decided to remand all the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service treatment records and requests for new examinations or medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete development of records. The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted, but her other musculoskeletal disabilities are not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his lumbar spine disability and urinary disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD to include somatic symptom disorder and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine were denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating than 70 percent for PTSD and 40 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is service-connected for PTSD and degenerative disc disease, but the current record does not contain sufficient information to adjudicate his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, considering the effects of painful motion and limitations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and left Achilles tendon disorder, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for anxiety and depressive disorder, as well as lumbar spine DJD prior to June 26, 2019, was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent for anxiety and depressive disorder or a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine DJD prior to June 26, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for fibromyalgia and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome due to insufficient evidence in the record.,An effective date prior to September 30, 2017, is denied as there was no valid claim received by VA prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluations and evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for his service-connected musculoligamentous strain with degenerative disc disease from January 1, 1982 to June 29, 2004 has been dismissed. The Board found that the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating have been met during this period.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability and denied an increased rating for depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected lumbar DDD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 40 percent, as there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or functional equivalent thereof.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's service connection appeals for left knee and neck disabilities. The Board has also granted service connection for a lumbar disability, but dismissed the appeal for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbar disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling examinations and readjudicating the TDIU claim since January 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various foot, knee, and low back disabilities due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide any STRs he may have in his possession and for VA to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.