Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's left hip DJD status-post total hip replacement is granted a 50% disability rating, effective from November 1, 2012. Other claims are denied or remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities, and thus service connection is denied for all issues on appeal.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the entire period under review, both on a schedular and extraschedular basis due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for his service-connected left knee and lumbar back braces, effective from 2014 forward.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 20 percent prior to October 6, 2020. Beginning October 6, 2020, the disability is now rated at 40 percent.,Radiculopathy in both lower extremities has been rated at 10 percent each since October 6, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a back disability is denied as there was no valid claim filed prior to April 17, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical strain and lumbar strain with unfused apophysis at L-4 and degenerative joint disease due to incomplete VA medical treatment records and the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and bilateral foot disabilities secondary to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to failure to consider medical articles submitted by the Veteran in October 2017. The case is now pending with instructions to obtain a VA medical opinion that addresses these articles and assesses whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU rating prior to December 7, 2011 is remanded due to the Board finding that he does not meet schedular criteria and refers the matter to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete paralysis of various nerves associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issues include left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a back disability, and headaches have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or any other qualifying chronic disability under the provisions for Persian Gulf War veterans. The claim for a back disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking the condition to active duty. The claim for headaches remains pending as well.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted. The back, left knee, and tinnitus service connection claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for thoracolumbar spine disability prior to November 24, 2018 was granted at a 20% level. From November 24, 2018 to January 2, 2020, the rating was increased to 40%. Since then, no higher rating is allowed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate discussion of functional loss and range of motion during flare-ups, as well as ankylosis without consideration of medication effects.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is denied. The Board found that the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination, and thus the appeal must be denied as a matter of law.

The Veteran's claims for left shoulder, back, and left leg disabilities have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for psychiatric disability (depression).

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining a new VA examination and requesting additional evidence related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and left upper extremity CTS were denied as there was no factual evidence of a worsening in symptoms prior to January 17, 2018.,An effective date of January 17, 2018 was assigned for all claims due to the Veteran's formal claim being received within one year of his Intent to File.