Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected back disability and radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including VA treatment records and SSA disability determination. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to address his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, including as due to a service-connected disability. The evidence did not support his assertions regarding an etiological link between a lumbosacral spine disability and active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar disc disease with spinal stenosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to May 31, 2017. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for this period.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has found further development necessary to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's back and left hip disabilities are related to service, including any incidents during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as well as to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and denied a compensable rating for folliculitis. The low back disability is found to be due to active-duty service, while the folliculitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's back disorder was granted a 40 percent rating from April 21, 2021.,Separate ratings of 10 and 20 percent were granted for sciatic nerve radiculopathy affecting the left and right lower extremities respectively.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of the retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from September 30, 2008 to October 23, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and levoscoliosis, cervicothoracic spine pain, and thoracic spine pain due to insufficient examination reports. The Veteran's claim will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for her cervical spine disability prior to April 11, 2014 was denied. The claim for TDIU was also denied as the Veteran is currently rated at 100 percent combined and does not meet the criteria for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating and TDIU prior to May 28, 2015 have been dismissed as the accredited representative withdrew these appeals in their entirety.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disorder and granted it, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish a current diagnosis and a link between the condition and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and radiculopathy conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease, peripheral neuropathy of the right leg, left arm, and right arm was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they have never resulted in specific functional limitations required for a higher rating.