Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board restored the 40 percent disability rating for the back disability and denied a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a psychiatric disorder, ED, left wrist disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder, to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty (AD), active duty for training (ADT), and inactive duty for training (IDT) and to obtain additional evidence regarding the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability due to the lack of evidence showing a current diagnosis and no in-service injury or disease related to the back.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's low back condition, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The claim to overturn the May 25, 2012 rating decision denying service connection for a low back disorder based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was denied.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for a lumbar disorder and an effective date of April 11, 2018, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), while denying other claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Board granted service connection for right and left ankle, left knee, back, and tinnitus disabilities but denied service connection for a left Achilles tendon tear and right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, right hip disability, shin splints, upper respiratory infections, low back and cervical spine disabilities, as well as radiculopathy and sciatica in the lower extremities. The only positive decision was a 10 percent rating granted for eustachian tube dysfunction with vertigo.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to January 15, 2020, excluding periods of convalescence.

The Board remands the matter for further evidentiary development to obtain a retrospective VA medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back strain with traumatic arthritis of the sacroiliac joints prior to October 8, 2015.

The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability for the entire period on appeal, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with arthritis, left hand condition, and PTSD to obtain additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to ensure compliance with its prior remand instructions.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's back, left hip, right knee, glaucoma, and lung disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot arthritis was granted, while the claim for an epidermal inclusion cyst was dismissed. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a lack of complete National Guard records and outstanding non-VA medical records, as well as inadequate VA opinions.

The Board granted service connection for tension headaches and low back condition as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder, and granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder. Several foot and other disabilities were remanded for further evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, as he did not meet the schedular criteria and there was no reasonable possibility that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability for additional development, specifically requiring an addendum opinion that addresses the role of an altered gait caused by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.