Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The lumbar spine, left shoulder DJD, right shoulder DJD, and GERD conditions are not rated higher than the current levels due to lack of evidence supporting more severe disability. Service connection for radiculopathy was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no current diagnosis of such a condition and thus no basis to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with prior instructions and a need for further examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury and that it is more likely due to normal aging.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her service connection claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been granted. She is now entitled to these claims.,Service connection for a back disability, hypertension, migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, heart condition, bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, left foot condition, and right foot condition are all denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia were granted service connection. The claims for right and left ankle disabilities, neck disability, back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and acquired psychiatric disability were denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is remanded due to the lack of VA examination records and updated contact information.

The Veteran's mild lumbar spine facet osteoarthritis and breathing disorder (claimed as asthma) were not incurred or aggravated by service.,Service connection was denied for both conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's emphysema claim requires further examination and development, as there is conflicting evidence regarding whether he has this condition. The other claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to a lack of recent medical evidence and an updated examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was caused by VA treatment during his total right knee replacement surgery in 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for a compression fracture T-9 (back condition) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than May 27, 2015 for a 40 percent disability evaluation for lumbar spine disorder is denied as there is no evidence of symptoms meeting the criteria for a 40 percent rating within one year prior to the date of claim.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are granted with a 100% rating, effective prior to December 20, 2017. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted at a 100% rating, but only prior to that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence to link any past injury or disease to his claimed condition.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to service connection for left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities. The reasons are that the VA opinions provided were inadequate due to inaccurate facts or lack of consideration of the lay and medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for postoperative residuals of lumbar strain with lateral recess stenosis L5-S1 was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to June 6, 2016, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter, for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as there were no incapacitating episodes over the past 12 months.