Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's request for a higher-level review of the October 2018 rating decision is denied as it was not filed within one year of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was granted, resulting in past-due benefits. The appellant is eligible to attorney fees based on this grant of benefits.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right shoulder impingement syndrome and lumbosacral sprain were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral condition as there is no current diagnosis of the condition in the medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral condition as there is no current diagnosis of the condition in the medical records.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private treatment records from his current provider and VA examinations for his service-connected conditions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as proper VCAA notice must be provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to perform daily activities such as feeding, dressing, bathing, and attending to personal hygiene needs. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since April 24, 2017. The Board is remanding the case to consider whether a higher rating of 70% is warranted as of April 24, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology for his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability. The decisions on the left and right shoulder disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's chronic low back strain resulted in a combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 225 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under the General Rating Formula. The Board finds no evidence of ankylosis or muscle spasm/severe guarding.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence in his file, specifically missing treatment records from VA Medical Center, Jacksonville and possibly Gainesville.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for unspecified depressive disorder is granted. The Board finds that a remand is required to obtain a secondary aggravation opinion regarding the Veteran's back condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a low back disability have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found that the current psychiatric disorder is not related to service, while the low back disability requires further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates prior to July 15, 2013, were denied as the evidence did not show that increases in disability occurred prior to this date. The right knee scar was rated compensable but no higher, while the lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and RLE radiculopathy received increased ratings effective July 15, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD, back disability, LLE sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and LLE femoral nerve radiculopathy are all denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain prior to November 21, 2016 and for a determination of whether the condition results in functional impairment analogous to unfavorable ankylosis on and after November 21, 2016.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted at 40 percent, effective August 19, 2019. Separate ratings of 20 percent are assigned for radiculopathy affecting both lower extremities beginning August 27, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition. The Veteran's service connection claim for a back condition is being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records from his time in Korea. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and make a formal determination if they exist or are unobtainable.