Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and legal standard issues. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including spondylosis of the fifth vertebrae, will be reconsidered with an additional opinion from a VA clinician.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied a request for an effective date prior to June 30, 2014 for service connection of the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability. The earliest effective date was found to be June 30, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle weakness and instability, as well as low back disorder (degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease), finding no link between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her back disability prior to November 23, 2015 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the current range of motion findings.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations and opinions. The Veteran's right shoulder disability, upper GI disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hand disorder, thoracolumbar spine (low back) disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder are all subject to review.

Service connection for migraine headache disorder, low back disorder, right hand disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot disorder is granted.,Service connection for psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and an antisocial personality disorder) is remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating for a low back disorder, as well as for an increased rating for a left knee disorder. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with other claims.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from September 11, 2014 through August 20, 2018 due to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral chronic dry eye syndrome is granted with a separate 20 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and chronic lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and bilateral knee disorders, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 29, 2007. The Board has granted an effective date of August 29, 2007 for his claim of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, have precluded his employability since June 18, 1983. The Board has granted a TDIU effective June 18, 1983 on an extraschedular basis and dismissed the claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has found the VA examination reports inadequate and remanded for another examination to determine if the Veteran's back condition is related to his service, specifically his Army deployments in 2003, 2006, and 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities due to a lack of recent medical examinations. The Veteran is also being remanded for a TDIU claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and a right shoulder condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a TDIU, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a low back disability, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for an inguinal hernia scar. The issue of SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and unclear radicular symptoms. The Veteran's lower back condition is rated at 10 percent, but he claims a higher rating.