Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cephalgia (headaches), thoracolumbar spine disability, right knee disability, bilateral leg disability, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete development.

The May 2018 rating decision assigned a 20 percent disability evaluation for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and a 10 percent disability evaluation for his spinal scar, both effective September 7, 2012.,The Veteran's appeal pertains to increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating and TDIU has been remanded due to inadequate VA examination in the previous decision. The Board will obtain additional evidence, schedule a new VA examination, and refer the case for extraschedular consideration of TDIU.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to 30 degrees or ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating for his right foot disability and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, back disability, and hepatitis B have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board requests additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's migraines/tension headaches are rated at 50 percent from January 10, 2013. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right shoulder conditions, back condition, and neck condition. The Board also remanded issues regarding rating in excess of 10 percent for left foot hallux valgus with arthritis in the MTP joint, beginning January 9, 2013, to include on an extraschedular basis; rating in excess of 10 percent for right foot hallux valgus with arthritis in the MTP joint, beginning January 9, 2013, to include on an extraschedular basis; and TDIU prior to January 7, 2016.

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

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding in-service injuries.

A rating of 40 percent for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine prior to September 14, 2021 is granted.,An increased rating in excess of 40 percent for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine from September 14, 2021 is denied.,The matter of TDIU prior to July 16, 2012 is remanded.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine was granted at a 20 percent level from November 21, 2010 to May 11, 2021. For the right elbow, a staged initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent on the basis of limitation of flexion was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was reopened and granted, with the Board finding that his symptoms are related to his military service. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus type II associated with herbicide exposure.,Service connection for both conditions is established based on presumptive exposure to herbicides during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 27, 2016.

The Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis is related to his in-service injury and service connection is granted.

The Veteran's initial and increased evaluations for right knee degenerative arthritis with Baker's cyst status post right meniscal tear repair, as well as his lumbar spine disability evaluation prior to October 17, 2020, were denied. For the period beginning March 20, 2009, a higher evaluation of 10 percent for right knee instability was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected back and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy disabilities caused him to become obese, which contributed substantially to his death from congestive heart failure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for its October 2020 denial of the claim, specifically because it relied on an inadequate examination that failed to adequately address the Veteran's self-reported flare-ups. The case is now required to be remanded for a new examination.

The Veteran's disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve was restored to 40 percent effective February 1, 2020.,The Veteran was granted entitlement to a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for lumbar strain is dismissed because the AMA appeal was docketed in error and does not affect his legacy appeal.