Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, a cervical spine disability, and a low back disability have been reopened. The claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence supports that his PTSD is related to in-service stressors. Service connection is also granted for the cervical spine disability due to its relation to an in-service event. However, the Veteran's low back disability cannot be linked to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, increased ratings for low back disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and TDIU are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine if his depression is related to service or his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, including any surgeries and spinal anesthesia he received during service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his condition began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hip disabilities is reopened due to new evidence. However, the remanded issues include determining if these conditions are secondary to service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including foot disability, toe numbness and tingling, hypertension, chronic edema, erectile dysfunction, left leg neuropathy, and depression. The VA will obtain his treatment records from 1970 to 2000, schedule him for examinations, and provide medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the Veteran's statements about her symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination as the previous one did not fully satisfy the requirements of Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, status post fusion with scarring is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition and depression is granted. The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, is etiologically related to his time in active service. Additionally, the Veteran's depression is aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and disability ratings have been dismissed due to his death. Pension benefits were also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide medical records from his private doctors, and a VA examination will be conducted.

The Board has denied service connection for neuropathy of the right lower extremity and remanded the issues of service connection for low back condition, bilateral knee condition, and left lower extremity neuropathy due to secondary service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has denied the claims for lower back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, including his adjustment disorder and various musculoskeletal issues, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His combined rating is at the maximum level.

The Board has remanded the claims for left hand, right hand, low back, left leg, right leg, bilateral hearing loss, COPD, sleep apnea, residuals of head trauma, and headache disorder as well as the psychiatric disorders. The VA will obtain all outstanding VA treatment records and provide a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent for the entire appeal period, with functional loss equivalent to limited range of motion of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including PTSD, DM due to herbicide exposure in Thailand, low back condition, HTN secondary to DM, and OSA. The claims are being remanded for further development of evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The appeals for the claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of bilateral hips, knees, elbows, feet, hands, and shoulders have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for a low back disorder has been reopened but is still pending as it was remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for substance abuse, secondary to PTSD and increased rating for service connected PTSD. The Veteran's appeal for a 10 percent rating for his left thumb scar from November 4, 2009 to September 28, 2015 was granted.