Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to July 27, 2015 due to insufficient evidence showing that she was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's stomach condition is remanded to obtain an opinion regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For PTSD prior to May 31, 2022, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent initial rating. From that date forward, he received a 70 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete information and need for further examination. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as secondary service connection for numbness in his lower and upper extremities. The remand requires additional development to consider the Veteran's lay statements and medical evidence regarding his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected thoracolumbar strain and left lumbar radiculopathy, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for an examination regarding the current nature and severity of his back conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture with degenerative arthritis is rated as 20 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating permitted for limited motion of the ankle. The evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral hip disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.,The Veteran's right hip arthritis, limitation of flexion is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's left hip arthritis, painful adduction with limited rotation and abduction is also remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his condition, including during flare-ups or after repeated use over time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine arthritis, as well as his right and left knee strains, are at least as likely as not related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with its prior remand and that further remand is required to correct the error. The Veteran's claims for intestinal disability and lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's cannabis use disorder is not service-connected as it is a primary alcohol abuse disability.,There are no diagnosed elbow, ankle, or thumb conditions in the Veteran's service records.

The Board has found that the AOJ did not substantially comply with prior remand directives and requires addendum opinions regarding whether the Veteran's substance abuse disorder is at least as likely as not aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent prior to January 29, 2018, and at 10 percent thereafter. The Board has ordered a remand for further development including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for arthritis of the lumbar and thoracic spine prior to May 28, 2022 was denied. A 50 percent rating is granted since that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since September 8, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and right knee disabilities have been denied. The current rating of 40 percent for the service-connected low back strain with DJD L5-S1 and DDD and severe neural foraminal stenosis is maintained, as are the separate ratings for symptomatic removal of right knee cartilage (20 percent) and lateral instability (10 percent).

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, which may be related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 40 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. Ratings of 20 percent were granted for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy prior to October 12, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, with the exception of a remand for further development on several service connection issues. The lumbosacral strain claim was denied as there is no evidence that it meets the criteria for a higher rating. The allergic rhinitis claim was also denied since it does not meet the criteria for a 10% rating due to lack of obstruction or polyps. Other claims were remanded.