Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for further development, including clarification of the weight-bearing status of the VA examination results.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition, diagnosed as cervical spine degenerative disc disease, is granted service connection. The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 8, 2020, and a rating in excess of 80 percent for BHL from that date are both denied.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection, while his right ear hearing loss and back disorder are denied. Service connection for type 2 diabetes, heart disorder (chest pain), stomach disorder (abdominal pain), and bilateral vision disorder (diabetic retinopathy and cataracts) is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected conditions and the appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, and his claim was denied on this basis.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as his condition does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded as the VA examinations were insufficient in addressing his contentions regarding secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for atrial fibrillation is being remanded as the VA examinations were insufficient in addressing his contentions regarding secondary service connection and herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is being remanded as the VA examinations were insufficient in addressing his contentions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine being 30 degrees or less, nor does it show favorable ankylosis.,Right leg sciatica is currently rated at 10 percent and there are no incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The lumbar spine disability is remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and musculoskeletal conditions of the spine and extremities. The main focus is on obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the nature and severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's initial hip disability (superimposed arthritis) is rated at 10 percent, but an increased rating of 30 percent for limitation of extension is granted.

The Board denied service connection for low back and neck disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to military service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and thoracolumbar spine disability, rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to January 21, 2014. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 3, 2020 due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's PTSD and back disability made him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation before that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU prior to May 23, 2017 was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability including degenerative joint and disc disease.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability due to lack of medical nexus between the Veteran's military service and his current condition.,The Board denied increased ratings for right shoulder tendinitis and left shoulder tendinitis as there was no evidence showing limitation of motion at 25 degrees from the side.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 1, 2016. The Board denied the claim for TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular grounds.