Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to April 11, 2014. The case is referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues include a claim for an increased rating for back disability and a TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, and back disability need further development due to missing service treatment records and a lack of VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection for a mental health disorder (GAD and PTSD) is remanded due to the need for verification of in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and a lumbar spine disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service. The appeals of other issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability was rated as noncompensable prior to September 26, 2011, and 10 percent disabling from September 26, 2011, through March 9, 2015. The Board denied a higher rating for the low back disability during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions regarding whether his PTSD caused or aggravated his tobacco use and obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his claimed disabilities. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of the PACT Act, and rated at 100% effective from the date of enactment of the law (2022).

The Board has found that the Veteran's scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine with strain does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The cervical spine disability, degenerative disc disease, and radiculopathy issues are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The issues of increased evaluations for low back strain with spondylosis and TDIU are being addressed.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and sleep apnea as these conditions were previously granted in an August 2018 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the 2014 VA examination was inadequate and remands for further action, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and left wrist/hand disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted effective dates of March 22, 2013 for the grant of a 40 percent disability rating for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection remain remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for GERD, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Left Shoulder Disability, and Low Back Disability. The claims for these conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's OSA and Lumbar Spine Disorder are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's GERD and OSA are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology. His arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral knees, ankles, and hips is also being remanded due to lack of a VA examination.