Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's low back disability was initially rated at 20 percent prior to June 30, 2015. After October 17, 2014, the disability was re-evaluated and assigned a 40 percent rating effective from that date.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his service-connected lumbar spine disability were denied as there was no increase in the disability within one year prior to the date of claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his back condition and lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and remands the case for this purpose.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a low back disability and remanded it for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and unresponsive mail. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and TDIU must be remanded due to inadequate development, including the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, including whether it is related to service or any service-connected disabilities. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not effectively preclude her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and secure substantial gainful employment, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increases in the staged ratings assigned for tinea versicolor, lumbosacral strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and MDD) were denied as there was no evidence to support service connection. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed condition in service or during the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to active service or secondary to her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 20 percent, and his lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent. The sinusitis rating remains unchanged, while the chondromalacia rating has been increased to 20 percent.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is rated at 20 percent, effective December 1, 2006. Service connection for a low back disorder and a left knee disability are granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities are not related to his military service. The Veteran's hearing loss is also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted service connection. The claims for left knee and low back disabilities, secondary to the right knee disability, are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including Lyme disease and its residuals, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, memory loss, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, headaches, cognitive impairment, dizziness and poor balance, tinnitus, heart disorder, splenomegaly, diffuse myelitis, organic disease of the nervous system (to include chronic pain), and radial neuropathies of the feet and hands were denied as these conditions are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.