Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that his lumbar spine did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to limitations in range of motion and lack of ankylosis.

The Board has found service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine. The claims for right hip, left hip, and left shoulder conditions are remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran received a 20% rating for his low back disability from July 10, 2006. The higher ratings are denied prior to July 1, 2020 and after that date.,A 20% rating is granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy effective from July 1, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left carpal tunnel syndromes are granted with increased evaluations, while the service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is also granted but only effective from October 23, 2018.

A 20 percent rating for service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted from June 6, 2013 to December 12, 2014.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 40 percent since March 21, 2014. Ratings in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his prostate cancer and other conditions. The issues include service connection for various disabilities, including prostate cancer, hypertrophy of the breast, high blood pressure, residuals from paralysis of the fourth cranial nerve, HIV, heart disability, sleep disorder, arthritis, and bone and cartilage disability.

The Veteran's father, S.M. Jr., does not qualify for additional compensation benefits as his income is sufficient to provide reasonable maintenance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, lumbar spondylosis, and lumbar spine DDD, had its onset in service and has been continuous since separation. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequacies in a previous VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's low back condition. The examiner did not provide adequate rationale and failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements about his continuous pain and treatment history.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, left wrist disability, and left knee disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is granted at a 20 percent evaluation from September 23, 2010 to February 27, 2020 and denied for evaluations in excess of that. The right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both denied initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent. The Veteran's limitation of flexion of the left knee is restored from a noncompensable to a 10 percent evaluation, but his limitation of extension of the left leg remains denied. The instability of the left knee is granted at a 20 percent evaluation beginning April 3, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to a service-connected disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left leg pain and right lower radiculopathy, as further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since May 31, 2017. The Board has granted a TDIU from that date onward but has remanded the issue of whether he was unemployable prior to May 31, 2017 for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back disability and insomnia due to insufficient evidence, including a need for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from October 1, 2006, through October 28, 2009, and in excess of 20 percent since October 29, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's cervical spine disability, as the current rating criteria have changed. The issue of a higher rating for degenerative disc disease with cervical strain remains under review.

The Board has found that the VA examination conducted in January 2020 did not adequately address the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his service-connected back disability. The claim is being remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining any outstanding records and scheduling a new VA examination.