Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board granted an effective date of September 2, 2010, for service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right sciatic nerves but denied increased ratings for these conditions. The claims for increased ratings for knee and back conditions were remanded.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and remanded several service connection claims, including dyspnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, low back disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 30, 2023, for the grants of service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve.

The Board granted an effective date of July 17, 2020, for the award of service connection for left and right upper extremity idiopathic peripheral neuropathy and lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the claims were not supported by competent medical or lay evidence.

The Board granted an effective date of August 3, 2018, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and a 40 percent initial rating from that date.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected conditions.

The appeal was denied a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar myositis with spondylosis, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 24, 2008.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from December 22, 2011.

The Board remands the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and ensuring substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied ratings in excess of the assigned percentages for the veteran's left knee and back disabilities, but granted a 20 percent rating for left knee limitation of flexion from August 4, 2014 to September 24, 2024, and a 30 percent rating for a back disability from August 16, 2019.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability and the claim for the back disability is now moot due to grant of treatment purposes only benefits.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and left hip disability, as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left great toe, finding no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board remands the issues of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, cervical spine prior to December 10, 2014, due to a failure by the VA examiner to provide a retrospective opinion that complies with the Board's remand instructions.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including consideration of additional evidence and readjudication by the AOJ.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy, while granting a 40 percent rating from November 24, 2020 to August 1, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for a low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability to obtain new VA medical opinions that adequately address the Veteran's lay reports of onset, in-service treatment, and continued symptomatology.