Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 16, 2020.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and lower back disorder due to potential outstanding VA treatment records. An additional VA medical opinion is needed regarding the nature and etiology of any current lower back disorder.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all listed conditions due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle and back disabilities, but dismissed the claim of service connection for arthritis. The Veteran's right leg pain is not considered a separate disability from his already service-connected right knee disorders.

The appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of a 100% disability rating. The low back disability claim is remanded for further development, including an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantial gainful employment, as evidenced by his continued full-time employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating of the Veteran's right thumb disability, low back disorder, pes planus, deviated septum with enlarged inferior turbinates, congenital nevus, and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records and SSA records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to physical limitations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for IVDS, lumbar spondylosis, and herniated nucleus pulposus are granted. The claim for ILD with COPD is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for left and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected major depressive disorder, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, lumbar spine disability, and loss of teeth are being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider additional evidence and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability, including a lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease, has been rated at 10 percent since June 17, 2013. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate as it does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various joint disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of multiple joints (including ankles, knees, and feet), were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and headaches disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back condition due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbosacral spine strain, claimed as back condition, is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a more contemporaneous examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The decision also granted a 10% rating for a facial scar.,The Veteran’s claim for an eye disability remains pending as there are missing records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his anxiety disorder did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent, and there is no evidence to support service connection for his back condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding her military status on August 30, 2008. The case will be returned for further development.