Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2019 VA examination and the significant time since the last examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the submission of additional VA treatment records not previously considered by the AOJ.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his broken nose, headaches and sinusitis, right foot conditions, and lumbosacral strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on both an extraschedular basis prior to March 13, 2023, and on a schedular basis since that date.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet his claim for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine condition is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable rating criteria. Additionally, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete certification of the appeal, additional VA medical records submitted after the October 2019 SOC, and the need for clarification on right foot surgery history. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for chronic lumbar strain with spondylosis is being remanded due to the lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives regarding a retrospective estimation of his range of motion during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection and increased rating for his back condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, and migraine headaches due to scheduling issues with VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for abdominal muscle strain, constipation, and OSA have been denied as she does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.,Her low back disorder (claimed as scoliosis/lordosis) is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's right and left knee disorders are also remanded, with a focus on determining their relationship to service-connected shin splints.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and a lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these disabilities and service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's spinal stenosis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted a 40 percent rating, effective May 22, 2012.

The Veteran's lower back and right hip disorders are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his military service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm condition, neck condition, back condition, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and skin condition.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome are being remanded due to the need to obtain updated VA and private treatment records.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which was initially denied due to lack of a nexus between service and current disability. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right patellofemoral pain syndrome (knee strain), and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's TDIU claim from January 14, 2011, to February 22, 2018, is granted based on his service-connected right knee disability, right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to November 2, 2021. The Board granted an extraschedular TDIU effective October 7, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder with anxiety, and alcohol use disorder.,Service connection was also granted for a low back disability (DJD) and left arm disabilities (AC joint DJD, shoulder tendonitis, C5 radiculopathy, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome).,Right carpal tunnel syndrome was also granted service connection.