Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected low back condition, characterized as degenerative arthritis L4-L5 and L5-S1 with a paracentral disc protrusion or herniation displacing the right S1 nerve root, is now rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, right lower extremity condition, and left lower extremity condition due to a lack of nexus opinions in the record.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder, and tension headaches are granted with an effective date of December 1, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a low back disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depressive Disorder, Lumbar Spine Disability, and Neuropathy of the lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder disability and cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's current back disabilities are being requested to be addressed in a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete records and inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's initial ratings for migraine headaches and acquired psychiatric disability (depression) are denied, while a separate rating of 10 percent is granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective dates for service connection are also denied.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of right shoulder disability and denied his claim for service connection of lumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and right elbow disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these disabilities and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left hip disorders that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and bilateral knee disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for arthritis of the neck, bilateral hands, and lumbar spine due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are now remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 40 percent, but no higher.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder. The issues of service connection for a back disability and a left wrist disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee, low back, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions and examinations.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy, associated with lumbar degenerative disc disease and fibromyositis, is rated at 20 percent since April 25, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and skin condition on the back due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be reviewed again with new etiology opinions.