Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and right ankle disabilities due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives, as well as deficiencies in medical opinions provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, and surgical scars of the right knee. Additionally, the TDIU claim prior to August 16, 2018, is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development of the record, including obtaining an adequate examination and reviewing all pertinent evidence submitted since the October 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities have a common etiology or are the result of a single accident, as this could potentially allow for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened, but the claim remains denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service that led to his current condition. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 40 percent prior to February 23, 2023, and at 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back disability and radiculopathy in both legs, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded all other issues due to a failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for further development due to inadequate examination and potential missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asthma, PTSD, and IBS, are at least as likely to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability due to additional development and an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and migraines, but denied both claims as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from August 8, 2011, through May 4, 2014, rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 100% evaluation from October 4, 2017 to January 30, 2018.,An effective date of October 4, 2017 for the increased evaluation of PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right knee disabilities.,These conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, lower back disorder, and bilateral shin splints due to a lack of persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 40 percent rating effective August 26, 2022. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted a 20 percent rating effective August 26, 2022.

The Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected back and heart disabilities from August 25, 2014, to March 21, 2016.

The Veteran has met the schedular criteria for TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities, but she is not unemployable as her disabilities do not prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence of current severity for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, and a new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.