Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 40 percent, effective December 23, 2019. The right lower extremity radiculopathy remains rated at 20 percent from April 30, 2015. SMC at the housebound rate was granted starting June 28, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and denied an increased rating for small bowel obstruction. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD and low back disability, as well as the reopening of previously denied claims for type II diabetes mellitus (DM2), Lyme disease, and hypertension, are being remanded due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and a respiratory disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran served on active duty from January 1966 to May 1969.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back and left shoulder conditions due to insufficient development. The Veteran's contentions regarding in-service injuries and continuity of symptoms are not addressed by the VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the Veteran's functional limitations and ability to work. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination opinions and additional development is required before service connection can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck and low back disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for service-connected thoracolumbar spine facet arthropathy and arthritis (low back disability), as well as more than a 20 percent rating for service-connected right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, due to incomplete examination reports and need for clarification of functional impairment.

The Board has determined that more contemporaneous examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and remanded for earlier effective dates for certain grants.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition and remanded the increased rating claims for bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran's scoliosis was found to have been aggravated by her active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and bilateral knee disabilities due to evidence indicating worsening symptoms. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, concluding that the evidence does not show a direct relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been granted, with the cervical spine disability receiving a 30% rating from September 16, 2010 to July 5, 2021. The lumbar spine disability received a 40% rating from September 16, 2010 to June 25, 2013 and then a 30% rating beginning July 5, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examinations and lack of clear opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his knee, low back, and right hip disabilities. The appeals are now pending again.

The Veteran's head scar is granted a 10 percent disability rating. The low back and hand warts cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 40% rating from July 28, 2010 to July 24, 2020. Ratings in excess of 40% for the back disability and ratings in excess of 10% for both knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's OSA and right ankle sprain are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. The right knee disability is granted with a 10% rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for rating purposes, and therefore remanded several issues including service connection for lower back disability, bilateral wrist condition, right elbow disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and PFB. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.