Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbar and cervical spine conditions due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand orders.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right and left foot disabilities, and hypertension due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, prostate disease, kidney disability, and food allergies. The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70% to 50%, effective February 11, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings and questions regarding functional loss.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and right knee disabilities were initially denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen these claims. The Board finds that the reopened claims are granted. However, the claims for service connection remain on remand due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and aggravation of the conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted on a direct basis. The Board found that the probative evidence supported the claim, as there is enough epidemiological evidence to support a positive association between in-service herbicide agent exposure and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for IVDS of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease prior to January 15, 2021 and beginning January 15, 2021 is denied. The current ratings are found to be appropriate.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its December 2022 remand directives and thus the claims for thoracolumbar spondylosis, onychomycosis (claimed as toe fungus), xeroderma of the bilateral feet, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypertension, and migraines are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and granted an increased rating of 10 percent for atopic dermatitis. The decision on the service connection issue is final, while the increased rating remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the General Rating Formula or the Formula for Rating IVDS Based on Incapacitating Episodes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral radiculopathy, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As his combined rating is at least 70%, TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's bladder and bowel impairment is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and missing VA treatment records, requiring a new evaluation of the Veteran's neck/upper back condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hip disabilities, including thigh impairment, and associated lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical evidence and failed to provide a proper opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder. The case is now back with VA for further examination and an updated opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fungus of the feet and toenails was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of this condition, and thus denied the claim. Other issues were remanded due to lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for low back disability from April 19, 2016 to March 21, 2019. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the nature and severity of his back disability and ED. The TDIU claim is also remanded.