Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal has been dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability during flare-ups. Further development is needed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and left and right knees have been granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability has been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran’s GERD may be related to his military service and exposure to chemicals in service. Further examination and opinion are needed.,The Veteran's back disability may be related to his military service and exposure to chemicals in service. Further examination and opinion are needed.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disability may be related to his military service and exposure to chemicals in service. Further examination and opinion are needed.,The Veteran's neck disability may be related to his military service and exposure to chemicals in service. Further examination and opinion are needed.,The Veteran's right elbow disability may be related to his military service and exposure to chemicals in service. Further examination and opinion are needed.,Further examination and opinion are needed for the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's back disability is now rated at 40 percent effective December 14, 2011.,Separate ratings of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve are granted from November 19, 2010 to October 17, 2019.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is rated at 20 percent effective October 18, 2019.,Neurogenic bladder is rated at 20 percent effective October 18, 2019.

The Board denied a higher rating for the service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and denied service connection for left wrist, right wrist, and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine condition, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to clarify the Veteran's employment history and assess his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as moot due to the assignment of a 100% combined schedular rating for all service-connected disabilities since December 26, 2007.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral foot disorders due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are considered service-connected as they were incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right and left knee disabilities. The evidence did not show these conditions were present in service or within one year of separation.,The Board also found that the Veteran's current psoriatic arthritis, psychiatric disorders, liver disability, and circulatory disorder are not related to his service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and TDIU rating as the evidence did not support that the Veteran's current disability was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected foot disability.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, chronic sinusitis, and low back disorder. Service connection was also denied for an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's radiculitis of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent. The current evidence does not support a higher rating as his condition is characterized as mild.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left elbow disabilities, thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities, right knee disability (other than Osgood-Schlatter's disease), left knee disability (other than Osgood-Schlatter's disease), and compensation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 for an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and for service connection for vertigo, to include as secondary to peripheral vestibular disorder due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities associated with a lumbosacral strain due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his service-connected condition is manifested by muscle spasms, stiffness, locking, or tightening in his hands.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease, left knee strain, and right knee strain, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of June 19, 2010. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis.