Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted an initial rating of at least 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine strain with DDD, effective from May 1, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to conflicting opinions regarding aggravation by service-connected knee disabilities. The case is returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and left leg below the knee amputation, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease leading to these conditions. The claim for secondary service connection based on service-connected right hip, right knee, and/or right ankle disorders was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability, but denied service connection for all other conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back condition and migraine headaches have been granted service connection, with the back condition receiving a direct grant and the migraines being rated at 50%.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent from April 30, 2009 to February 3, 2015. The rating is granted for this period.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, and right arm disorder as the evidence did not support a nexus to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for a temporary total evaluation and increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle disorder, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle disorder, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral plantar fasciitis and rotoscoliosis with minimal degenerative changes of the lumbar spine have been denied as they are already at their maximum schedular ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions from previous examinations. The Veteran is required to provide retrospective opinions on his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, including their functional loss over time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back condition and a neck/upper back condition, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was granted for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and left wrist osteoarthritis based on their being secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ganglion cyst.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a lumbar disorder and a cervical neck disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to September 19, 2017 for a 50 percent rating for service-connected PTSD is denied. The Veteran was previously granted service connection and a 10 percent initial rating for PTSD on May 1, 2009, but did not file a VA Form 9 within the required timeframe to perfect his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantial gainful employment, leading the Board to grant his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a low back injury is remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including SSA records and medical records from Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas, and UVA Hospital System.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and development of records.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to incomplete records and the need for further verification of the Veteran's periods of active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine has been readjudicated due to submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that his current back disability is related to his in-service injuries, including a motor vehicle accident in September 1961.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance and that the current condition is etiologically related to active service.