Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA treatment records from 1981, which are relevant to the Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent low back pain.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are presumed to have started during the one-year period following his separation from active service. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of migraine headaches and experienced headaches during service, though no treatment was provided at that time.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's right shoulder disability and service. While he reported discomfort and clicking when raising his arm in service, there are no records indicating any injury or condition related to this issue until after separation from active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine due to a lack of substantial compliance with the October 2017 remand, need for updated examination, and need to address whether numbness of hands and feet is related to the back disorder.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with right upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty.,Service connection was granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Board found that the Veteran had continuous back pain since service and supported this by private medical opinions.

The appeal of the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is dismissed. The petition to reopen service connection for hypertension has been granted, and the issues of service connection for various conditions are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to October 22, 2010 and on and after that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability, left knee disability, and major depressive disorder (secondary to other disabilities) due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to right knee instability, left knee instability, bilateral hearing loss disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip limitation of flexion, left hip degenerative arthritis with residuals of left femur fracture, right knee meniscal tear with arthritis, residuals of a left knee injury with arthritis, and hemorrhoids.

The appeal as to the issue of tuberculosis is dismissed. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been reopened, but the preponderance of evidence does not support establishing that any current low back, left ankle, right ankle, or knee disabilities were incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided that there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's current low back disorder was aggravated by her service, and therefore remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated as 10 percent prior to January 9, 2020 and as 20 percent from November 9, 2020 onwards. The cervical spine disability was rated as 10 percent prior to January 9, 2020. Tension headaches were not assigned a compensable rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent since November 9, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to new evidence indicating that his lumbar spine disability may be worse than previously assessed. A VA examination is required to assess the current severity of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right ankle is denied, and he is granted an initial 20 percent rating from November 15, 2006 to January 3, 2021. The Veteran's entitlements for DDD of the lumbar spine and cervical spine are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine and left knee disorders due to a lack of substantial compliance with its March 2019 remand. The case is now back before the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's TBI residuals with seizure disorder and lumbar spine disability are granted as service connection is established for these conditions.

The Veteran's full-time employment status means he is not eligible for a TDIU, as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than an anxiety disorder, is found to be related to service. The low back disability and left ankle disability are remanded for further examination and opinion. The cervical spine disability claim is also remanded.