Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a head disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, heart disorder, DM, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction. The VA is directed to obtain all relevant records and schedule the Veteran for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for various disabilities and ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his failure to complete the required VA Form 21-8940 prevented the Board from determining his employability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation of his low back disability is denied as there are no findings of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.,The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess current symptoms and severity.,The Veteran's claim for diffuse muscle and joint pain is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her service-connected low back disability was denied as her current symptomatology does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability was granted effective January 7, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to November 4, 2019 do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, and neck disorder. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as he is not service connected for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his anxiety disorder and left ankle degenerative arthritis with history of sprain and instability, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination to assess his functional limitations due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating greater than 30 percent for migraines and her claim for TDIU, finding that her service-connected disabilities did not preclude her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his low back injury and associated radiculopathy has been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased initial rating and TDIU on an extraschedular basis, finding that the current schedular evaluations adequately considered his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Prior to December 6, 2019, the Veteran's left knee instability was rated at 10 percent. From December 6, 2019, it has been rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD, lumbar spine (back) disability, right elbow disability, and left ankle disability have been granted service connection. The initial rating for PTSD has been increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% prior to January 28, 2020 and the claim for increased rating beyond that date is denied. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder (secondary to PTSD), and OSA are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disorders due to concerns about the adequacy of the VA examination and opinion provided.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 40 percent evaluation effective January 22, 2020. The decision also denied evaluations in excess of 40 percent for the period after that date.

The Veteran's right foot condition is not service-connected.,Service connection for migraine headaches was granted as they are secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.