Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's left hip disability is rated at 10% and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's right ankle/foot tendon repair residual disability with DJD is rated at 10% and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's low back disability from May 21, 2013 to January 27, 2020 is rated at 20%, and from January 27, 2020 onwards is rated at 40%. Both ratings are denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's left foot DJD is rated at 10% from August 7, 2006 to June 12, 2015 and at 30% from June 12, 2015 onwards. Both ratings are denied a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete VA examination, and thus further development is needed.

The Veteran's lumbar strain rating was reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent in November 2015, but this decision is void ab initio due to lack of compliance with regulations. The Board has restored the original 20 percent rating for lumbar strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition and its relation to service. The Veteran will need to provide VA treatment records from 2009 to present, as well as a medical opinion on whether his current back condition is related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeals on both back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder claims due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the appeals for service connection for neck, right knee, left knee, and back disabilities due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions. The appeal for hypertension is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability. The claims for left knee and sleep disorder are remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in evaluating the Veteran's mental health and employment status, requiring a new examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in connection with these claims were inadequate and remanded for further development. The Veteran's hip, shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities are being reviewed again to determine their severity since October 1, 2002.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 19, 2015 is being remanded due to the need to refer it to VA's Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's low back condition resulted in a combined range of motion of 230 degrees prior to December 5, 2013. From that date, the Veteran's functional impairment limited his forward flexion to 30 degrees or less.,The Veteran is entitled to an initial rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve and a separate rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and rating considerations due to the need for clarification of his service-connected bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and insufficient consideration of certain evidence. The claims will be reviewed again after obtaining relevant medical records and considering all submitted statements.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 8, 2018. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability ratings for his radiculopathy of the femoral nerves and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded due to incomplete information regarding his employment history and the need to obtain missing VA vocational rehabilitation records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a pulmonary nodule and multiple lower extremity radiculopathies, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 3, 2017. His TDIU claim is granted.