Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding new and material evidence. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for lumbosacral facet arthritis with thoracolumbar DDD and cervical spine DDD have been denied as her conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain and related conditions, as well as a bilateral lower extremity neurological disorder including sciatica, were denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic diseases or injuries during service that could be linked to the current disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, was granted. The claim for service connection for the low back disorder is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The claim for service connection for the acquired psychiatric condition remains pending as new evidence has been submitted.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right wrist, cervical spine, lower back, bilateral knee, and right ankle disorders as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including a low back disability and psychiatric disability.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, radiculopathy, muscle loss in upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy in lower extremities, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for back and right foot disorders as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran did not provide any lay or medical evidence to support a nexus between current conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, radiculopathy, muscle loss in upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy in lower extremities, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, low back disability, wrist osteoarthritis, and left lower extremity radiculopathy, prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 31, 2012. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on the evidence showing his service-connected conditions precluded him from sedentary employment.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left leg thrombophlebitis and remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for spondylolisthesis lumbosacral spine at L5-S1 and separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The evidence did not show more than moderate limitation of motion or flexion limited to 40 degrees.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 4, 2011 was denied as the evidence did not establish that he was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

Your claim for a higher evaluation for bilateral otitis media is being remanded as your symptoms have worsened since the last examination.,Your claims for service connection of chronic sinusitis, chronic throat infection, and lung conditions are being remanded due to new evidence indicating an association with your service-connected bilateral otitis media.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and acquired psychiatric disorder are granted service connection. The Veteran's cervical spine disability, diabetes mellitus, and secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed as he withdrew them prior to the decision. The Board also granted entitlement to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to multiple service-connected conditions preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, hypertension, and immune thrombocytic purpura due to insufficient rationale provided by VA examiners.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for status post appendectomy with recurrent intestinal dysfunction and in excess of 10 percent prior to October 23, 2015, for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis. As a result, the claims are dismissed.