Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to his death prior to a decision.

The Veteran's lumbar laminectomy with IVDS is currently rated as 40 percent disabling before August 1, 2017, and 20 percent thereafter. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran’s recurrent ganglion cyst on the left wrist was initially noncompensable prior to March 15, 2013, and rated as 10 percent disabling thereafter. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the right lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the left lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran’s sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was initially granted a separate rating of 10 percent effective January 7, 2010. The claim for a higher rating has been denied from August 1, 2017 onwards.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran’s sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was initially granted a separate rating of 10 percent effective January 7, 2010. The claim for a higher rating has been denied from August 1, 2017 onwards.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,Prior to December 1, 2016, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational background. The claim for TDIU prior to this date has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete information regarding his employment status, which may impact the determination of TDIU. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records and complete VA Form 21-8940 from the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted as his back condition was noted in service and he has complained of symptoms since then.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory disorders, sinusitis, rhinitis, and bilateral otitis media were not granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is denied because he does not meet the criteria of having a single service-connected disability rated as 100% and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60%. The Board found that his housebound status was not due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left hip disorder and back disorder due to insufficient medical evidence. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, neck condition, lower back condition, left-hand condition, right-hand condition, right knee condition, left-knee condition, right ankle condition, and left-ankle condition.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the claims for neck and back disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding whether any pre-existing conditions were aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, left and right radiculopathy, dorsal spine compression fraction, right shoulder tendonitis with impingement and osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial claim of a higher rating for left shoulder impingement syndrome was withdrawn. The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine degenerative disc disease, finding that he did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the record, specifically regarding the relationship between his current condition and his documented in-service injuries.

The Board has dismissed the claim for an increased rating for a right knee disorder and has granted service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to the service-connected right knee disorder. The claims for gynecological disorders and psychiatric disorders are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and low back disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). The Veteran's service records need to be obtained and added to the claims file.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification regarding whether the Veteran currently has a lumbar spine disability and if he had such a disability at any point since August 2011. The examiner is asked to provide an addendum clarifying these points.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Veteran received a 40 percent rating from November 27, 2013 to January 13, 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination and incomplete information. The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are not yet resolved.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his right knee scar is granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.,The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for neck/cervical spine disability, left knee disability (including as secondary to service-connected ruptured patellar or quadriceps tendon proximal to the right patella), lumbar strain, ruptured patellar or quadriceps tendon proximal to the right patella, and lateral epicondylitis of the left elbow.

The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with anterolisthesis was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His right ankle disability received an initial 20% rating, but this was remanded due to further development being needed.