Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 28, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety and lumbosacral strain, but has remanded the issue of service connection for migraine headaches due to lack of a nexus opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and the Veteran's refusal to schedule a VA examination. The Veteran is advised he should cooperate in the efforts to adjudicate his claim, including attending a scheduled examination.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are each rated at 20 percent, but the Board found they do not warrant higher ratings based on the criteria provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including back, knee, ankle, shoulder, and hand conditions. The reasons include a lack of examination addressing the impact of cold weather conditions during service.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from May 5, 2012 and effective date of Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits from the same date. The decision also grants an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to failure to schedule VA examinations, and requests additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TBI claims require additional development due to worsening symptoms since the last examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but has remanded his claims for hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction due to potential exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection is granted for obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, hypertension, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran's testimony regarding his in-service injuries and ongoing symptoms is considered.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability (DDD) and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and determinations regarding his bilateral hearing loss, back disability, left ankle disability, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for her back disability is denied. Her claims for separate ratings for RLE and LLE radiculopathy are granted from March 2, 2007 to January 7, 2015, but not thereafter. The Veteran's claim for TDIU based solely on her service-connected back disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions provided were inadequate for adjudication purposes, necessitating further development of the claims.

The Veteran's appeals for hearing loss and skin condition (claimed as jungle rot) were dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims.,Service connection was granted for cervical-spine disorder with associated left-upper-extremity radiculopathy, lumbar-spine disorder with associated right and left-lower-extremity radiculopathy, and right-knee disorder, all secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims of service connection for various lower back, knee, ankle, and radiculopathy disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for rhabdomyolysis (also claimed as blood in urine, debilitating back condition, and tightened and fatigue joints) has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's back condition likely began in service and is related to his military service.