Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected back and bilateral knee disabilities, which limit his ability to perform physical tasks.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and right knee conditions, as well as tinea pedis (bilateral).,Service connection was denied for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a lower back disability, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for clarification of the medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's low back disorder worsened during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, leading to the grant of TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and therefore grants TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disability, hypertension, cervical spine/ neck disability, low back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral arms and hands, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral legs, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral feet disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, thyroid disability, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nervous disorder, anxiety, and depression.

The claims for service connection for scarring alopecia (claimed as hair loss) and PTSD have been rendered moot due to the complete grant of benefits. The remaining issues, including sleep apnea, vestibular disorder other than vertigo, TBI, fibromyalgia, back disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, eye disorder, respiratory disorder, hypertension, and skin disorder other than scarring alopecia, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her osteoarthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine with IVDS was denied in all periods due to lack of evidence showing ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis was initially rated at 20 percent prior to February 23, 2017, and then increased to 40 percent from that date. The Board denied a higher rating for the condition. For his TDIU claim, the Board also denied it as of February 23, 2017.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation. The low back and left eye disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and opinion, including service connection claims for various conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and facial scar were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding functional loss during flare-ups and range of motion testing. The Veteran is to be provided with a VA examination that addresses these issues.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete development and requests that the Veteran provide a completed Application for TDIU, VA Form 21-8940, as well as information regarding his education and employment history since his discharge from service. The AOJ is also instructed to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow and lumbar spine disabilities, which are secondary to his already service-connected cervical spine disability, need further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, which is the highest rating available for limitation of motion.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty or service-connected conditions. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine arthritis, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for stroke residuals due to lack of evidence of a current diagnosis during the appeal period.

The Board denied an increase in disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine prior to October 27, 2017 and from October 27, 2017 onwards. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.