Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral hip strains and lumbar spine strain due to lack of VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the rating claims.

The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy of the LEFT and RIGHT lower extremities, as well as his IVDS of the lumbar spine, have been granted increased ratings. The highest possible rating for IVDS based on incapacitating episodes is now in effect.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The left wrist disability is rated at 10 percent, and the back disability is rated at 40 percent as of November 1, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and neck disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and for further examination. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no earlier effective date found, and his lumbar spine disability and residuals of an ethmoid fracture need additional evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient examination findings and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her lumbar spine and right knee disabilities were denied. The claim for a higher rating for arthritis and chondromalacia of the right knee prior to September 17, 2013 was granted with a 10% rating.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The decision summary is that the Veteran’s back condition does not warrant an increased rating, while his obstructive sleep apnea was found less likely than not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle fracture, status/post total ankle replacement and lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease (DJD) have been denied as the medical evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed, including obtaining incident reports from a VA examination in November 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development of his service records and inadequate examination for assessing his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and he has been employed as a licensed vocational nurse throughout the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, including DDD, IVDS, spondylosis and degenerative arthritis, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that the current disabilities are not related to any such in-service event.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service event or injury.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine DJD, finding that her symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on limited range of motion.