Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination and lack of complete treatment records. The appellant's claim for service connection for a back disability is being reviewed, with particular attention to whether it is secondary to his service-connected duodenal ulcer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders due to a lack of adequate examination regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a back disability. The appeal for service connection for basal cell carcinoma is remanded.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities prior to January 15, 2010.,The Veteran's Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) claim for the period from December 30, 2005 to June 2, 2008 is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, lower back condition, and acquired psychiatric condition due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence and need for further development. The case will be returned to the Board after additional examination and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus granted service connection for this condition.,The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's lower back disability and his service-connected left knee disability. The Board denied service connection for the lower back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records from Eglin AFB medical facilities. The Veteran is not contesting the effective date or rating assigned for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and headaches due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective December 2, 2020. His sciatica of the left lower extremity is rated at 40 percent, effective October 9, 2015. His radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 20 percent, effective December 3, 2020.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to November 30, 2012 and denied for a higher rating. Since November 30, 2012, the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine has been granted at a 20 percent level. The ratings for her left and right knee disabilities have been remanded, as well as her claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and pelvic floor dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating was reasonably construed as including claims for service connection of multiple conditions. The effective date for the TDIU rating is set at November 4, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), stroke residuals, and peripheral neuropathy, are found to be at least in equipoise as to whether they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective August 25, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a more detailed medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including whether it was initially manifested during service or pre-existed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the period from April 1, 2014. Prior to that date, his TDIU was denied as he had been gainfully employed or able to obtain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, specifically their onset during service or relation to a left shoulder injury.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities, diabetes mellitus (DM), and ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to chemical exposure. The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40%.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is remanded due to inadequate previous examinations and the need for an addendum opinion.