Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for his mid-sternum scar associated with coronary artery bypass graft has not been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 24, 2012. A TDIU is granted from that date.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability has been rated at 20 percent since September 28, 2022. The Board found that the most restrictive range of motion was flexion limited to 60 degrees, which supports a rating of 20 percent under DC 5237.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to the VA examination reports and compliance with legal requirements.

The Veteran's initial request for higher ratings for his service-connected back condition was denied. The rating assigned prior to June 6, 2019, is 10 percent and the rating after that date is 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and a low back disorder due to additional development being required. The issues are related to whether these conditions were present during periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back and right hip disabilities, finding that these conditions had their onset in service and have continued since then.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability as secondary to a service-connected left ankle condition. However, the issues of an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and TDIU are remanded due to new evidence indicating potential worsening.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are granted, with hypertension being granted under the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure. Other issues remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a previous examiner and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's sciatica right lower extremity associated with degenerative disc and facet disease is now rated at 40 percent from December 4, 2019. The previous rating of 10 percent prior to that date remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, low back, and tinnitus disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent from October 2, 2020 through November 30, 2021. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Board finds that the most probative evidence of record does not support this claim.,The Veteran also seeks service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected migraines aggravated his OSA beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical neck strain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome are remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether he exhibits or has exhibited at any point since September 5, 2013, ankylosis or the functional equivalent of ankylosis of the cervical spine. The claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, lumbar spine disability, left arm numbness, right arm numbness, and chest pain have been dismissed as there are no remaining questions of fact or law to be decided.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and dermatitis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.,Service connection claims for gastritis, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and prostate disorder remain unresolved.

The Veteran is granted nonservice-connected pension benefits due to permanent and total disability from nonservice-connected disorders, including psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection and evaluations of various spine disabilities, including radiculopathies, need to be remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the possible exacerbation of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain by his post-service car accident or his service-connected left knee arthritis.