Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a back disability is denied. The Board finds that no (formal or informal) claim was filed prior to October 1, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the issue of service connection for COPD.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has worsened since her last VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of her condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his right hip disability, chronic lumbar strain, and cervical spine DDD due to inadequate examination reports and lack of adequate descriptions of flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral shoulder disorder due to new evidence. The heart disorder claim remains denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of a right knee condition and an increased rating claim for lumbar paravertebral myositis. As a result, the Board dismissed these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for chronic sinusitis with headaches is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has decided that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his military service. The case will be sent back for further action.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a neurological disorder of the left lower extremity, increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and neuropathy sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that his recurrent low back pain preexisted service and was not aggravated by service. The Board also found no evidence of degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine related to service.

The Board found that termination of TDIU from December 1, 2017 was not proper due to the Veteran's employer providing special accommodations for his service-connected disabilities. The earlier effective date claim for June 1, 2015 is also remanded.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the increased rating for a back disability and TDIU. Therefore, another remand is required as both issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to new and material evidence, but remands it for further examination.

The Board had jurisdiction of the issue of TDIU at the time of its November 2015 decision that denied an increased rating for bilateral pes planus with calluses. The Veteran's unemployability was reasonably raised by the record in the context of his increased rating claim, and the case is now remanded to consider TDIU as an element of the July 2009 increased rating claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and headache disorder are all found to be related to his service. The claims for glaucoma, heart disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus have been denied.

The Veteran's lumbar and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if higher ratings are warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied, and the effective date for service connection of PTSD prior to January 15, 2014 is denied. The claims for increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

An increased rating of 60 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is granted from September 28, 1999 to September 22, 2009.,From September 23, 2009, an initial increased rating of 40 percent for the Veteran’s low back disability is granted. The rating remains at 40 percent after February 1, 2013.,An initial increased rating of 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve neuropathy) is granted from September 23, 2009.,An initial increased rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve neuropathy) is granted from September 23, 2009.,Prior to February 12, 2008, the Veteran’s left knee disability was rated at 20 percent under DC 5258 for dislocated semilunar cartilage. From February 12, 2008, an increased rating of 10 percent is granted under DC 5259 for symptomatic meniscus removal residuals.,From September 28, 1999 to present, the Veteran’s left knee instability is rated at 20 percent under DC 5257.