Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back condition, right wrist disability, right hand disability, right foot disability, and TMJ disorder due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's service connection claims are not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with secondary major depressive disorder was granted a TDIU effective April 11, 2017. The appeal for the TDIU prior to that date is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating for his right hand disability, as well as his bilateral lower extremity sciatica secondary to his low back condition, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent, as forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and PTSD due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations scheduled in November 2018. The Veteran was provided an opportunity to reschedule the examinations but did not do so without good cause.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left foot pes planus, lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition (secondary to a lumbar spine condition), great left toe disability, and left foot disability (other than pes planus) due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, chronic lumbar sprain, and residuals of a left ankle fracture have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to the combined impact of these conditions.

The Veteran requested to withdraw the appeal of four issues related to low back disability, brain injury residuals, and radiculopathy. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew their appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (including sleep disturbances and PTSD), back condition, and left knee strain due to service-connected right knee strain. The claims are being returned for further development including new examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's mental health disability has been rated at 100 percent since April 8, 2022.,The Veteran's multilevel DDD/DJD lumbosacral spine with severe stenosis was not manifested by unfavorable ankylosis and remains rated at 40 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine DDD status-post C6-C7 fusion and chronic headaches, both of which are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's chronic back pain with right lumbar radicular pain symptoms and disk bulge at L5, finding that his current disability is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee and back disabilities, after considering all evidence in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various knee and ankle conditions, as well as a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction due to new evidence being submitted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for back, left shoulder, right ankle, and left foot/toe disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher disability rating and TDIU due to an error in interpreting Diagnostic Code 5243, inadequate examination report, and issues of functional loss during flare-ups. A new VA examination is required.