Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with osteoarthritis (low back disorder), and coronary artery disease (CAD) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has remanded for further evaluation due to the complexity of his conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the four service connection claims for arthritis of the cervical spine, arthritis of the right hand, a low back disorder, and a right ankle disorder due to additional evidence being submitted without AOJ review.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a right leg injury (scar), and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran did not meet the requirements for exposure to herbicides for Air Force veterans who served on or near the perimeter of air bases in Thailand.,The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus type II during service, and there was no credible evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeals regarding left hand/wrist and right ankle disabilities, as well as bronchitis and lumbar spine disability have been dismissed.,Service connection for these conditions has not been established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and TDIU due to inadequate examinations and lack of proper employment information.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and various musculoskeletal conditions. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was set at September 12, 2017. All other issues have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back condition as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar strain, right hip strain, diminished flexion of the right thigh, right knee strain, right medial epicondylitis, and left medial epicondylitis. The RO is also instructed to issue a Statement of the Case for the issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for service-connected right medial epicondylitis and left medial epicondylitis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied, as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits due to his not having a serious employment handicap and his eligibility period ending on August 11, 2008.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, specifically whether it is related to service or was caused by his service-connected right toe disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are denied. The VA examinations did not provide sufficient information to determine if the current disorders were caused or worsened by service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability due to his failure to cooperate and report for a necessary VA examination. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, anxiety, and bipolar disorder) was also denied because there is no evidence of current diagnoses within the appellate period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment from December 7, 2015. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to TDIU from this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and back disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder and degenerative disc disease. The evidence shows that the Veteran's weight gain, which is related to his service-connected conditions, caused his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a back disability due to insufficient consideration of continuity of symptoms and in-service diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip condition. The right hip and low back conditions are pending as they may be related to his service-connected left hip condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition and lower back condition, both of which are secondary to his service-connected left knee condition. The case is being returned for additional development and new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient discussion of theories of entitlement, including whether the Veteran's psychiatric disability caused or aggravated his diagnosed back disorder. The claim for service connection for a neck and back disorder is being remanded for further development.