Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed.,The Veteran's service connection claims for upper back disability and left arm nerve damage have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to new and material evidence having been received, allowing for a reevaluation of the service connection claim. The issue remains on appeal as the Veteran's application to reopen her previously denied claim is still pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, skin disability (tinea manuum), and right ankle disability due to new evidence and testimony.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need to account for the Veteran's reports of onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis status post total replacement with femoral impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with a lumbosacral strain, spondylosis, and scoliosis. Service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, left ankle disability, left arm disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as secondary to his right ankle disability. The decision found that there was no evidence of a service-connected disability or an in-service aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's rating reduction from 40 percent to 10 percent for his lumbar spine disability, effective April 1, 2018, was found to be improper due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The AOJ restored the original 40 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to her bilateral foot disability, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder impingement, and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity due to incomplete or inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the previous remand instructions were not substantially complied with and further remand is necessary for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions from a qualified clinician regarding the Veteran's lay statements about his back symptoms and bilateral radicular symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating prior to May 18, 2017, for her service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to inadequate previous VA examinations and the need for a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to address deficiencies in previous opinions and to ensure that all relevant evidence is considered.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased evaluations of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis was denied, but he received a TDIU effective from November 11, 2020.

The Board has found that the RO substantially complied with the January 2023 Board remand directives. The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities, low back disability, and left ankle disability are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation of right knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis was granted, effective May 15, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including knee and back conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for left upper extremity radiculopathy and left leg lumbar radiculopathy have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found that the current ratings do not fully reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine condition was denied as the evidence did not show that it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred prior to September 29, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed because it raised a freestanding claim and there are no valid freestanding claims for earlier effective dates.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left and right extremity radiculopathy was denied as the evidence did not show that it is factually ascertainable that the Veteran had symptoms of radiculopathy prior to September 29, 2017.

The Veteran's effective date for service connection of PTSD and a 40 percent rating for low back disability is granted as of August 16, 2008.