Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was not enough evidence to show he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disability was denied. The current rating of 20 percent is not considered appropriate given the severity and nature of his symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues, including service connection for hypertension and increased ratings for low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim remains on appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disability, right and left upper extremity disabilities, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy are denied. The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective July 17, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, neck, left ankle, right ankle, and OSA disabilities due to incomplete examination opinions and lack of associated third-party statements.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted. The Board has remanded all issues, including service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability and remanded it for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by NSAID use associated with his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen her claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability and denied her claim for service connection for pes planus. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating based on incapacitating episodes or under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. Regarding TDIU, the Veteran's employment prior to August 1, 2015, precluded her from receiving a TDIU on a schedular basis. The Board also noted that she was employed after August 1, 2015, which further prevented her from receiving a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Appellant's periods of active duty and OCS from June 1991 to March 1992. The VA is required to verify these dates and provide an addendum medical opinion on whether her claimed conditions are related to service, including aggravation during OCS.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's claim for TDIU. The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete development and inadequate medical opinions. The issues include PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, lumbar spine disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied service connection for lumbar spine and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is at least an equipoise of evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and his service injury, thus granting service connection for this condition. The claim for thoracolumbar spine disability was denied as there is no credible evidence linking current symptoms to service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a June 2010 spinal cord stimulator implant surgery at a VA medical facility is remanded as the evidence of record is insufficient to resolve his claim.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for valvular heart disease, as well as TDIU. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board dismissed the appellant's appeal for service connection of a left shoulder disability due to his withdrawal from the case.,Service connection was denied for back, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus disabilities as there is no probative evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension (HTN), and hypothyroidism were dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. Other claims are being remanded.