Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the genitourinary disability issue during a hearing before the Board. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period from February 27, 2015 to November 26, 2018 due to lack of evidence showing he was unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lower back, left hip, and right hip conditions due to insufficient evidence of a link between these disabilities and military service.

Service connection for a low back disability is granted.,An initial rating of 10 percent for a right scalp scar above the temple, manifested by disfigurement and pain, is granted prior to October 14, 2022. A separate rating in excess of 10 percent for the same condition due to manifestations of pain is denied since October 14, 2022.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, residuals of head injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, dysthymic disorder, and anxiety), and seizure disorder. The effective dates have not been established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral foot cold injury have been granted. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in not requiring a new VA examination, and it is now required to obtain one.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and a bilateral ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service and have continued since.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and right shoulder disabilities. Service connection was denied for a left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar DDD disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, as there are indications that it may have worsened since the last examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lower back disability is related to service. The examiner did not adequately address the Veteran's lay statements and VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's claims, and he is advised to attend these appointments. The pulmonary breathing disorder claim also requires further examination and testing.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder and entitlement to TDIU should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment prior to January 30, 2020. The Board has determined that remand is necessary to address this issue.

The Veteran's appeal for bilateral achilles condition was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is related to his active military service and establishing continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle osteoarthritis and lumbosacral spine DDD with IVDS are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his claims related to lumbosacral strain, left shoulder strain, and a urinary condition. His chondromalacia of the left knee remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine were not rated higher than the current levels. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of entitlement to a TDIU based on these conditions alone.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability, which may be related to a 1981 or 1983 injury during National Guard service.