Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and assigned a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's left knee and lower extremity stress fractures, right knee and lower extremity stress fractures, and right ankle sprain were each rated at the minimum compensable level (10%) due to painful motion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, cubital tunnel syndrome, and other conditions, have prevented him from obtaining or following substantially gainful employment since August 1, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating. The thoracolumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent since February 4, 2020 and denied any higher ratings. The bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted initial 20 percent ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, effective from the entire rating period on appeal. The right and left upper extremity radiculopathy are both rated below 20 percent for their respective periods. A TDIU rating was granted beginning August 29, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, a back disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection cannot be established for the claimed disabilities due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met the schedular criteria for a TDIU from December 10, 2020. The Board remanded the matter of entitlement to a TDIU prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for post-operative lumbar fusion and arrhythmia, including as secondary to herbicide exposure. The remand requires VA to seek additional records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, low back disability, radiculopathy, knee disabilities, and right knee scar. The specific issues include seeking higher ratings for these conditions as of May 29, 2018, and prior to that date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back condition has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions prior to April 4, 2013 prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment consistent with his educational background and employment history.

The Board denied service connection for chronic lumbar spine and cervical spine disorders, finding that the evidence did not show a diagnosis of these conditions during or within one year after active service, nor was there any link to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability, a respiratory condition including asthma and sleep apnea, and a back condition. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining employment, despite significant physical and mental impairments.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine arthritis and lumbar DDD, and an initial increased evaluation of PTSD to 70 percent. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues are related to the severity and frequency of flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for her service-connected low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support an increased evaluation at any time during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and separate ratings for radiculopathy due to his lumbar spondylosis is being remanded as the current VA examination did not account for potential flare-ups of the disability, which may affect its severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate nexus opinions provided by a VA examiner in January 2017. The Veteran is seeking service connection for back, neck, and breathing conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for hearing loss, a back disability, hypertension or high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus.