Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has dismissed appeals for ratings in excess of 20 percent, 10 percent, and 10 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE), and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE) respectively.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar degenerative disc disease and claims for TDIU and SMC were all denied by the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions and need for further development.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions, including neck and back issues, peripheral neuropathies, and traumatic brain injury. The Veteran's death during the appeal process means that no further action can be taken on these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a non-organic sleep disorder is dismissed.,Issues of service connection for allergic rhinitis, OSA, TBI, headaches, Meniere's disease, bilateral plantar fasciitis (to include as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability), and erectile dysfunction (to include as secondary to service-connected hypertension) are remanded.

The Veteran's left hip disability is rated at 10 percent for limited extension, and a separate 10 percent rating has been granted for the entire period on appeal.,For his low back disability, he received a 20 percent rating prior to November 13, 2012, and was denied ratings in excess of 20 percent from that date forward.

Service connection for a right leg disability is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is reopened and granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, as well as obtaining outstanding private medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding the appellant's military service and to obtain new VA opinions on the etiology of his back disorder and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and the Board finds it necessary to remand this matter for clarification regarding whether her service-connected disabilities preclude her from performing the duties of the occupation for which she previously was found rehabilitated or if the occupation is unsuitable on the basis of her specific employment handicap.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability (DJD) and a low back disability (DDD), finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any other compensable condition.,Both conditions were determined to be unrelated to active duty, with no credible evidence of onset during service.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a neck condition and service connection for a back condition, both secondary to the Veteran's left-hand injury. The Board found that VA examinations are needed to assess these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while limiting his employment opportunities, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are less than total in severity and he has other employable skills.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar degenerative disc disease were denied in February 2011. The Board finds that the February 2011 decision contained CUE as it failed to fully consider available evidence of record, including service treatment records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted with an effective date of January 26, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability and back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and back disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's low back strain and associated peripheral neuropathy were denied increased ratings. The low back strain was rated at 10 percent prior to August 19, 2020, and at 40 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service injury and that any present conditions were not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left varicocele.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for GERD and remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain and trapezius strain. The Veteran's GERD is being examined to determine if it is related to service, while his back conditions are being examined to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine DDD, right knee DJD, and lumbar spine DDD due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is not granted service connection for these conditions.