Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an extension of a temporary total disability rating beyond July 31, 2018 due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show he required hospitalization or convalescence following his discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is not rated higher than 20 percent prior to October 16, 2020.

The Veteran's bilateral chondromalacia patella is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral achilles tendonitis. The low back disability claim has been remanded for additional opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding his claim of entitlement to a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU). His service-connected lumbar spine disability has resulted in a 40 percent rating since November 10, 2020. The TDIU claim will be evaluated considering the Veteran's bilateral hand conditions and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 20 percent, but not higher, for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is granted. The claims for increased ratings for right leg radiculopathy and left leg radiculopathy are also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, right eye, and right hand conditions due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is required to obtain military personnel records and arrange for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for medical examinations. The claims include psychiatric, alcoholism, neurological disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, headache disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, respiratory disability (bronchitis), and benign essential tremor due to inadequate opinions provided by VA examiners.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for his arthritic spurring T8, T9, T10 to include lumbar spine prior to August 3, 2018, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request for hearing.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was dismissed because he withdrew the claim prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to his active service. The low back and associated radiculopathy issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a higher disability rating for spinal stenosis and radiculopathy due to inadequate examination findings, specifically regarding range of motion, functional loss, and pain in weight bearing.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it is related to the Veteran's military service. The appeal was reopened due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and PTSD render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment for the period prior to November 17, 2017. The appeal is remanded due to a lack of schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for lumbar spine disability due to new and material evidence. However, it is determined that there is no causal relationship between the current back disability and military service.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The issues of initial evaluations for major depressive disorder, allergies condition, and lumbosacral strain are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and evidence review.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for persistent depressive disorder, lumbar spine condition, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her claims under the modernized review system.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and low back strain, did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's SMC (r)(2) benefits for need of aid and attendance are granted, effective March 31, 2015. The RO failed to apply the correct rate due to a LCR error in applying asbestosis and coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine from October 10, 1996 to March 23, 2010.