Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment until December 22, 2011. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU for the periods specified.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to ensure compliance with the prior remand instructions for both low back disorder and obstructive sleep apnea service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not support reopening the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and denied all other claims as well.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent from December 12, 2022 onwards. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for knee and back disabilities due to inadequate prior examinations. A new examination is needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current condition, which includes a history of in-service symptoms and ongoing pain.

The Board has granted an initial 40 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability and effective dates for the radiculopathy ratings. The case is remanded for further development to address issues related to the severity of the disabilities, their effects on daily life, and any additional service-connected conditions.

Your appeal for service connection of a back disability has been dismissed because the Veteran's representative requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. Separate ratings of 10 percent were granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy effective from February 23, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, residuals of penile injury (including erectile dysfunction), hypertension, and heart disease. The VA examiners found no clear evidence that the conditions pre-existed service or were incurred during service.,The examiner concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence to support a direct link between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current disability level.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy are remanded for further development, including obtaining an opinion on the functional ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disorder have been denied. The claim for skin cancer is remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, disc bulges, and right ankle arthritis was dismissed. The appeals for seborrheic dermatitis, right knee disability, TMJ, and major depressive disorder were granted.,The Veteran is now entitled to an increased rating of 40 percent for his right foot disability, a 50 percent rating for his right wrist degenerative arthritis from April 26, 2016, and a TDIU from August 8, 2016 to October 19, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected left varicocele, due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for clarification of the nature and etiology of his current back disorder.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service or the presumption period.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine and right knee disabilities prior to February 3, 2020. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations to assess these conditions without the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities were denied, while service connection for a right ankle disability was granted. The back disability claim was also denied as secondary to the knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,TDIU was denied as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude substantial gainful employment.