Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 9, 2015. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran’s current back disability began during service or was related to any in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not render him unemployable at any point during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral shin splints, finding that the evidence did not establish a direct relationship to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, other than his PTSD, did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board denied the TDIU claim as the Veteran’s remaining service-connected disabilities do not result in an inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a fall at a VA examination, finding that there was no additional disability caused by the fall and thus not meeting the criteria for compensation.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during Vietnam service. The scar of the lumbar spine remains denied, and hypothyroidism and hepatitis C are remanded for further review.,An initial compensable rating for scarring head to toe is denied, and an acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating for arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to May 16, 2017 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied.,Compensable rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) prior to December 12, 2016 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is denied.,Compensable rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) prior to October 27, 2020 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied.,The Veteran's entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD with sciatic neuropathy was granted a single 60 percent initial rating prior to February 27, 2018. From that date onwards, separate 40 percent ratings were granted for right and left lower extremity sciatica.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back disability, service connection for right and left hip disabilities due to other service-connected disabilities, and effective date issues. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of the hip disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for another VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right ear disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. Service connection was granted for acid reflux disease (GERD).,Service connection for a low back disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and back disability are found to be related to his military service, with the rating for hypertension being increased to 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and granted a rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as of August 1, 2011. The decision did not address left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, shoulder disorder, and OSA due to inadequate examinations in February 2021. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to his military service, including repetitive trauma from carrying heavy loads and corpses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as the evidence is insufficient to determine his employment history and educational background.