Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD due to military sexual trauma is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision.,Service connection for low back disability (lumbar degenerative joint disease) is granted as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy associated with his neck condition is now rated at 70 percent, effective June 26, 2019.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability increased in severity to manifest right lower extremity radiculopathy, allowing for a separate evaluation starting from February 5, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected low back condition and bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathy have been granted separate evaluations of 20 percent each, effective from the date of the decision. The initial rating for chronic mechanical low back syndrome remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbosacral spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since May 4, 2015.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for back and left knee disabilities have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, the lowest available rating. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are limited to pain and stiffness without ankylosis or other significant functional impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity of care and insufficient link between his current condition and military service.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's service-connected spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis and thus only a 40 percent rating was warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability, which may be related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder with panic disorder and agoraphobia has been granted a disability evaluation of 100 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including recurrent low back strain and right lower extremity neuropathy, precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 26, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and granted an increased rating of 30 percent for folliculitis from July 3, 2019. The decision also remanded several other issues.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's low back disorder as there was no evidence linking it to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right knee limitation of extension was denied. The claim for service connection for neck disorder was also denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the current condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The claims include service connection for a right wrist disability, including compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, as well as his increased rating claim for right knee arthritis, were denied. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbosacral spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his active service, but needs further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient development and potential competency issues with the VA examiners.

The Board has found that the VA did not substantially comply with its prior remand directives for this claim, and thus the case is being returned to the RO for further development.