Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current arthritis of the bilateral ankles, left foot, and right foot disabilities are related to service. The low back disability and right knee disability have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions and other issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for right foot, hip, back, rib cage, and psychiatric disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as he is currently employed and his combined rating is at least 70%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition, right foot condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for a low back disability and issues related to TDIU. The Veteran's reports of in-service injury and post-service symptoms need to be evaluated by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for lumbosacral strain and asthma have been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, as there is no objective evidence of muscle spasms or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour. For asthma, the evidence does not show at least monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations or intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic corticosteroids.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral knee strain, as well as a TDIU from May 26, 2017. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder alone precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral shin splints, and right ankle disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the medical evidence of record.,Service connection was also denied for dyshidrotic eczema.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee, low back, and left inguinal hernia disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in determining the extent of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The Veteran seeks increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and injuries.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral knee conditions, and a low back condition due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's claims were based on his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations and need for further development of his work history.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that it is related to his in-service back injuries during his first period of active duty service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is not entitled to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 30, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's OSA is not entitled to a rating in excess of 50 percent.,The Veteran's headaches are not entitled to an initial compensable rating prior to November 30, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly whether they are related to his military service or environmental exposures during his service in the Persian Gulf.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for the service-connected back disability from May 1, 2018 to November 27, 2019. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 40 percent for the entire period from November 17, 2016 is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of loss of balance, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine radiculopathy, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for herniated nucleus pulposus (HPN) of the cervical spine.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service and that arthritis of the lumbar spine was not shown within one year of separation from service.