Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's initial requests for higher ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, sinusitis, and psychiatric disability have been denied.,For the period prior to May 27, 2021, the Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 30% effective from September 16, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD and substance abuse, was granted. The claim of service connection for a low back disability is remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine, left hip, thoracolumbar spine, and right lower extremity nerve disabilities due to secondary service connection. The Veteran's claims are not supported by evidence showing a direct link between her current conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and lower back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral spine residuals of sprain and right knee disability was dismissed. Separate initial ratings were granted for the right knee based on limitation of extension, instability, and symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Board has decided to remand four of the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions. The claims include service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disability, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes due to IVDS, and thus, the Veteran's service-connected back condition does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent. Similarly, his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies were rated as moderate based on the provided evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to November 10, 2015 was denied as the combined disability rating did not meet the minimum schedular criteria. The SMC claim since November 10, 2015 is remanded due to insufficient efforts in obtaining private medical records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding various service connection claims, including for bilateral hearing loss, left arm condition, lumbar strain, left knee condition, left ankle condition, plantar fasciitis, anxiety condition, migraine headaches, jaw condition, lung condition, bronchitis, pneumonia, cervical strain, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right arm condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, kidney stones, right hip condition, left hip condition, and right ankle condition. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of any in-service injury or disease related to the current condition and no continuity of symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's skin condition, lumbar spine strain, cervical spine DDD, and PTSD with insomnia are all granted. The Veteran is assigned a 50 percent rating for PTSD with insomnia.

The Board has granted service connection for a left leg disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, lumbar spine disability (degenerative arthritis), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left thigh varicosities, right thigh varicosities, and tinnitus, are sufficiently severe to render him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board will conduct further examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided. The claims are related to skin disorders, lumbar spine disorders, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of various upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar strain, now with degenerative changes, is currently rated at 20 percent prior to May 20, 2021 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is also denied.