Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected L4-5 severe degenerative disc disease (DDD) are being remanded as the AOJ needs to consider the severity of his disability from June 3, 2003 forward.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a back disability due to insufficient opinions regarding its etiology. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar disability, including increased pain and limited functional ability, developed as a result of VA failure to properly diagnose and treat his initial disorder. As such, compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for this condition are granted.

An evaluation greater than 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease is being remanded.,An evaluation greater than 10 percent for bilateral Achilles tendonitis with limitation of ankle motion prior to July 20, 2016 is being remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 30 percent effective August 29, 2014. The rating is based on the severity of her attacks which are prostrating and prolonged, causing severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because he did not provide the necessary information to show he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine arthritis and head injury, finding no evidence of in-service injuries or continuity of symptoms. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 23, 2019 is remanded due to the failure to issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that any current left knee disorder was not caused by service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the appellant's current condition is causally related to his active military service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a complete discharge summary of the Veteran's August 4, 2014 emergency room treatment at Memorial Hospital of Jacksonville.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The low back disability remains at 40 percent. GERD and asthma are both denied ratings in excess of the current 10 percent. Sinusitis, left ankle scar, and left heel scar remain at their current 10 percent ratings. Folliculitis barbae is granted a rating prior to April 24, 2018, but not from that date forward. Service connection for right shoulder disability, left foot tendonitis, left flatfoot condition, and right flatfoot condition are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee, back, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, headache disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve, was granted with a 40 percent disability rating effective February 1, 2007. The appeal for earlier effective dates is denied.

For the period prior to May 1, 2015, the Veteran's chronic low back strain did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.,From May 1, 2015 onward, the Veteran's chronic low back strain is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with residual functional pain is rated at 20 percent prior to April 8, 2019 and denied for a rating in excess of 40 percent beginning on that date.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted at a 20% level. Other conditions are denied or rated appropriately.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.,Specifically, he is seeking service connection for various conditions including left shoulder impairment, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee impairment, right shoulder impairment, sinus condition, headaches, and a peripheral vestibular disorder.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine condition was rated at 20 percent prior to February 22, 2011. A higher rating is denied for any period on appeal. The claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also denied.