Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current condition and service. The Board also noted conflicting statements from the Veteran regarding when he first experienced pain.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted with a rating of 20 percent, effective December 11, 2019. The claims for RLE and LLE radiculopathy are also granted with respective ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and left foot disability, including residuals of a laceration with scar.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed back disability or left foot disability. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability was denied.,An initial rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for RLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is granted effective February 21, 2012.,An initial rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for RLE radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is granted effective December 27, 2011. The claim for a higher rating prior to this date was denied.

The Veteran's disabilities, including his cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions and left elbow condition, do not meet the criteria for a finding of permanent and total disability for pension purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability (arthritis) and remanded the issues of new and material evidence to reopen hiatal hernia claim and service connection for gastrointestinal disability (including GERD and umbilical hernia).

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is rated at 40 percent, which meets the criteria for a disability rating of 40 percent.,The Veteran's right inguinal hernia repair residuals are not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been granted, and the issue of service connection for a neck disability is being remanded.,The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen both claims but did not determine whether service connection should be granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and vertigo due to new evidence received since July 2012. The Veteran's current conditions are being reviewed again as they may be related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee, neck, and back disorders due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's private treatment records indicate current right knee symptoms but no specific diagnosis or opinion regarding etiology. The case is pending further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to errors in the previous decisions regarding service connection for arthritis of the low back and sciatica of the right lower extremity, both secondary to service-connected low back strain. The VA must obtain a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's arthritis is caused or aggravated by her service-connected low back strain.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 2020. The claim for higher ratings prior to that date and thereafter remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability, including chronic low back pain, is at least as likely as not related to his period of active service. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

A 20 percent rating is granted for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis from December 11, 2017 to October 6, 2020.,A 40 percent rating is granted for limitation of extension of the right knee effective October 7, 2020.,A 20 percent rating is granted for residuals of a right ankle strain effective October 7, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right hip and lumbar DDD as they are not adequately addressed in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, left ankle degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, tender scars, inter-trochanteric fracture of the right hip, radiculopathy involving sciatic nerve on the left, and right knee strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that his disabilities are sufficiently disabling to meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for left elbow epicondylitis and impairment of left forearm as due to left elbow epicondylitis, and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for low back strain.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened and are now granted. The Board found that the new evidence submitted since previous denials supports a finding that these conditions may be related to service or pre-existing psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate November 2018 VA examination for lumbar spine disability. A new examination is required to assess the current severity of the condition.