Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability and residuals of eye injury as the evidence did not show a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's back disability, PTSD, and bilateral radiculopathy have been granted a combined rating of 70 percent. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service and insufficient evidence to support a finding of causation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a lumbar back disability and granted it, finding that new evidence received since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% rating from December 5, 2012 to September 8, 2015. The VA has remanded the cases for cervical disorder, low back disorder, and blood disorder claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from maintaining gainful employment effective from March 30, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantial gainful employment since March 22, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent throughout the period on appeal, with limitations in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has denied a higher rating for sinusitis and granted service connection for neck strain. The cases of gastritis, insomnia, and low back disability are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board has expanded the psychiatric claim to include all acquired psychiatric disabilities, and it is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these claims. Gout, right lower extremity disability, left lower extremity disability, bilateral hearing loss, chronic liver disease (including hepatitis C), and back disability are also remanded due to lack of sufficient medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, and left shoulder degenerative disease (arthritis) due to a lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right elbow scar is granted service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran has a current lumbar spine disorder, but did not determine if it was related to his military service.

The Veteran is granted TDIU for his service-connected disabilities prior to May 26, 2020 and TDIU solely due to PTSD beginning May 26, 2020. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted starting from May 26, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine multilevel disc desiccation with herniated extruded nucleus pulposus on the right at L4/L5 and paravertebral muscle spasms, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 24, 2010, and entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher initial ratings are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability was denied.,PTSD with alcohol use disorder received initial ratings of 30% prior to December 11, 2019 and 70% from that date.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent since July 14, 2012. The TDIU claim is granted from July 24, 2007 through July 13, 2012.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back, cervical spine, and left knee disabilities due to in-service motor vehicle accident (MVA). The Veteran's claims are referred for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of her current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with prior remand instructions and inadequate statement of reasons and bases. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being returned for further adjudication.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the directives of its September 2020 remand and thus requires another remand to adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability.