Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and clarification regarding his claims. Specifically, he needs to provide information about any medical records related to an August 2001 motor vehicle accident and clarify whether he experienced back symptoms or injuries during Active Duty Training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran has been granted status as a Persian Gulf War veteran and is entitled to consideration for undiagnosed illness under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1117 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the issues of increased ratings for sciatica of both lower extremities remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, wrist, hip, and ankle disabilities, finding no evidence of direct service connection or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, finger, knee, foot, and chest conditions are not related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 is being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record, including scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his service-connected disabilities, employment history, educational attainment, and other factors.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete information and need for additional development, including verification of periods of active duty for training in 1987 and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, right arm and hand disability (CTS), and prostatitis. The low back disability is found to be directly related to service due to continuity of symptomatology. The right arm and hand disability is also found to be directly related to service. Prostatitis is found to be directly related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to December 11, 2009 and at a combined 30 percent as of that date. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not found to be related to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of low back, upper respiratory infections/breathing problems, or epididymitis. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a groin/low back strain, right foot disorder, left hip disorder, upper respiratory disorder, and diabetes mellitus, Type II, have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for low back or lumbar spine disability due to new and material evidence. The claim for neck or cervical spine disability is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death was not due to any service-connected condition, and the claims for PTSD, increased ratings for various conditions, and service connection were denied. The cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbosacral spine, right knee instability, left knee instability, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected protruding disc of the lumbar spine, status-post discectomy is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a personal hearing before a traveling Veterans Law Judge at the Winston-Salem, North Carolina RO.

The Veteran's appeal involves reopening of his claims and seeking service connection for various disabilities, including a right eye blindness and basal cell carcinoma. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 14, 2011 and/or in excess of 40 percent from that date.