Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, as well as a new psychiatric examination. The issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability and back disability are considered 'mixed' due to reopening on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's degenerative spondylosis of the lower back is rated at 20 percent effective September 10, 2015. The Board also granted a separate disability rating of 60 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with his service-connected degenerative spondylosis of the lower back.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain missing records and order a VA examination for his psychiatric condition and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating for right femur and petition to reopen service connection claim for low back injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records. The issue of an increased rating for radiculopathy, left lower extremity, will be addressed in a statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of any current low back disability, and for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including pes planus with degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, bilateral knee and ankle degenerative joint disease, meet the criteria for a TDIU as they result in his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of chronic low back pain before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The Board has remanded these matters for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board granted service connection and increased ratings for the veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease of L4-S1 with radiculopathy, and residuals of a fractured left fibula. The hearing loss disability was not rated as compensable under either pre-amendment or post-amendment regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability and sciatica was denied. The evidence did not show limitation of motion or incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back strain with degenerative disc disease, left knee chondromalacia, right knee chondromalacia, right foot traumatic arthritis with pes planus, left foot traumatic arthritis with pes planus, right hip degenerative arthritis, and left hip degenerative arthritis, meet the minimum combined rating criteria for a TDIU since February 27, 2006. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is not manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or by any neurologic abnormalities, and thus does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected pulmonary condition and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have prevented him from obtaining substantially gainful employment since September 14, 1998. The Board finds that his claim for TDIU is granted as of this date.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, but the evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating due to lack of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since November 2008. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as there was no limitation of motion or ankylosis warranting a higher rating.