Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The issues of secondary service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease to coronary artery disease are remanded.,Service connection is also granted for TDIU due to all service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for eye/vision problems, GERD, and back condition have been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for a back condition has been reopened due to new evidence submitted.

The Veteran was not unemployable prior to September 16, 2011. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU for this period.

The Veteran is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective September 25, 2019 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to conflicting findings regarding his right knee total arthroplasty, as well as issues related to degenerative disc disease with spondylolisthesis and lumbar fusion. The Veteran is also entitled to a rating in excess of 60 percent for his right knee total arthroplasty on and after November 1, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent from January 1, 2014 to December 5, 2019. From December 6, 2019, the condition is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee replacement, cervical spine disorder (including cervical strain, cervical degenerative spondylosis, and degenerative disc disease with stenosis and myelopathy), right shoulder calcific bursitis, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right cervical radiculopathy, left cervical radiculopathy, right wrist strain, left wrist strain, right hand strain, and left hand strain are all granted. The Veteran's foot disorder other than bilateral pes planus and back disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and a rating was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, as the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's lower back disability, including spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative joint disease (DJD), was granted a 40 percent rating effective July 22, 2015. The condition has been rated as unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, degenerative arthritis of the left ankle, chronic lumbar strain, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent medical records from St. Francis Hospital in Charleston.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration of whether the Veteran is eligible for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) during certain periods due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right elbow disability has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The claims for service connection for back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence, but further development is needed before reaching a decision on their merits.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of new evidence. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, if the Veteran does not meet schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left wrist disability and arthritis of the lumbosacral spine were denied. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back condition was denied.,His claims for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vision loss, need further review due to potential death of the Veteran. The appeal is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim on a schedular basis prior to September 10, 2012 is denied as he did not meet the criteria for a schedular TDIU.,The initial compensable rating for right foot tinea pedis is denied due to the disability affecting less than 5% of total body area and exposed areas with no systemic therapy required.,TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to September 10, 2012 is remanded as evidence suggests he may have been unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as he did not meet the schedular requirements and his preponderance of evidence showed that he was capable of substantially gainful employment prior to his passing.