Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the combined effects of all service-connected disabilities in determining whether the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) were denied as the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, which were necessary to evaluate her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; back disability; right knee disability; left knee disability; and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding service connection and increased ratings, as well as earlier effective date claims for the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided for each condition were inadequate and remanded these issues back to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TDIU due to insufficient consideration of evidence and potential changes in disability ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of May 9, 2017 for service connection of lumbar degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since April 11, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD (bipolar disorder) was denied. A rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted effective July 15, 2014. The claims for increased ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to October 28, 2016 and from that date are both denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection related to stressor-related disorder, low back pain with sciatica, and headaches are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, back disability, lower extremity disabilities, upper extremity disabilities, stroke, and alopecia. The claims were not supported by evidence showing the conditions occurred during active duty or ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and the Board finds entitlement to a TDIU is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spondylosis, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right leg lumbar radiculopathy have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of higher disability ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his lower back disability, right ankle disability, and hearing loss in the right ear due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to the need to provide the Veteran with an opportunity to identify missing records and obtain an opinion regarding his employability. The Board found that a VA examination was not conducted as requested, but rather scheduled by the RO.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to November 30, 2013 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is granted, and the claims for sinusitis, cervical spine radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle arthritis are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability but remanded the issue of secondary service connection for his back disability due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left eye disability and cervical spine disability.