Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment on an extra-schedular basis prior to November 5, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations for his musculoskeletal disabilities and hearing loss. The claims are also inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating for lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU prior to July 1, 2021 due to inadequate VA examinations in previous decisions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for low back arthritis and hypertension. The claims are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability have been granted effective March 30, 2011. The claim for left upper extremity radiculopathy was denied as it is secondary to the cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine due to insufficient medical opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset of his back pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine condition and an extension of a temporary total evaluation due to convalescence from surgery. The claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of prior formal or informal claims filed before December 17, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral foot disability and TDIU.

The Board denied increased ratings for right wrist scapholunate disassociation, spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine junction with strain and degenerative arthritis, left shoulder strain, radiculopathy in the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy in the left lower extremity.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied an initial compensable rating for epididymitis/varicocele. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is found to have begun during active service, while his epididymitis/varicocele does not meet criteria for a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 7, 2022.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability, finding that symptoms of a low back condition began during service and have been present since service separation. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, skills, training, and work history.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no worse than Level II hearing in the right and left ears.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with DDD was remanded due to insufficient medical evidence linking bowel incontinence to his service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bipolar disorder and a back condition due to incomplete medical records, lack of VA examinations, and need for additional lay statements.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of a disability for VA compensation purposes. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot, low back, and left knee conditions are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for peripheral neuropathy was denied. The back disability is rated at 40 percent since May 9, 2001. Separate ratings of 20 percent are granted for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic and femoral nerves respectively. Service connection is established for Haglund's deformities of both heels.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives, specifically regarding the opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran's claims for service connection are now pending and will be reconsidered.