Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his lumbosacral spine disability is now service connected, and he receives a 20% rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected conditions, particularly for his lumbar spine disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain relevant treatment records and to schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, arthritis, and a back condition due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 50% effective from August 28, 2020. The Board granted a special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance due to his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and sciatica due to inadequate VA medical opinions in previous remands.

Right knee chondromalacia and left knee chondromalacia have been granted service connection.,Bilateral pes planus has been granted service connection based on aggravation during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his TDIU award, finding that prior to March 31, 2006, his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine and low back disabilities, as well as TDIU. Additional evidence is needed to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective January 7, 2013 is granted. The Board also found that his TDIU claim was mooted due to the grant of a 100 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbar syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other functional impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar I disorder and cyclothymic disorder) alone supports a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability, combined with other disabilities rated at least 60 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased disability ratings for major depressive disorder and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 28, 2010 for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is denied. The appeal of the initial rating assigned and entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability. The Veteran is entitled to an increased rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for diabetic retinopathy of left eye with macular edema and left foot osteomyelitis, status post left first ray amputation due to insufficient evidence regarding the occurrence of in-service stressors and treatment records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent effective October 21, 2019. The Board denied an increased rating for the condition prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's condition is etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding service connection for a low back disability, which is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, specifically whether it is related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain medical records from Jacksonville Hospital and Dr. E.