Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbosacral anterolisthesis resulted in forward flexion limited to 85 degrees prior to June 14, 2022. This does not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to secondary service connection being raised by his testimony. The AOJ must arrange VA examinations to consider both direct and secondary service connection, including assessing whether any current conditions are related to active duty service or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service. The examiner must consider post-service treatment records, a 1993 medical opinion, and other factors in determining causation.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective October 25, 2018. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable from this date forward.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability prior to June 19, 2018. From June 19, 2018, the claim was denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for the back disability was denied as his findings did not more nearly approximate unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or intervertebral disc syndrome with incapacitating episodes.,There is a lack of compliance with the Board's remand directives regarding the issues of entitlement to an effective date earlier than October 11, 2016 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to an initial rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is now rated at 20 percent effective March 18, 2020. A separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is also granted effective on the same date.

The Veteran is granted an increased initial rating of 20 percent for his low back disability, effective from November 13, 2016.,Effective May 22, 2017, the Veteran is also granted separate ratings of 10 percent each for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and cervical DDD, C5-C6, have been granted increased evaluations.,Separate evaluations for LLE radiculopathy, RLE radiculopathy, LUE radiculopathy, and RUE radiculopathy have also been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back disability and left shoulder disability, are found to have caused his psychiatric disorder.,Effective March 28, 2016, the Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for his aggravated congenital absence of pectoralis major in the left shoulder.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the upper right arm is currently rated at 40 percent, which meets the criteria for this condition.,Bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.,There is no evidence to support service connection for hypertension or radiculopathy of the right leg.

The Board has granted service connection for spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is related to the Veteran's military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left hip and lumbar spine conditions as secondary to his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's low back disability and associated radiculopathy were rated at 40 percent prior to December 10, 2016. The Board found no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or qualifying incapacitating episodes.,A higher rating for the period prior to December 10, 2016, is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate to determine the severity of the Veteran's spine disability during flare-ups, as well as the etiology of his right knee degenerative arthritis. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left ankle, and right ankle disorders due to incomplete examination results. The Veteran will need to reschedule his examinations or telehealth interviews.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and related conditions are currently rated based on their service-connected status. The Board has found that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding his PTSD, warranting a 70% disability rating prior to December 5, 2019, but not higher. Other issues remain remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include frostbite, low back disability, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.