Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for a low back disorder, neck disorder, ED, higher initial rating for PTSD, earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, and SMC for loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and consideration of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lung cancer and liver metastasis were not found to be related to his service-connected conditions, including schizophrenia. The Board determined that the cause of death was not attributable to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine and right wrist disabilities were denied. The VA found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for direct service connection. The issue of secondary service connection was also addressed, but no decision was made as the evidence did not support a finding in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including USS Ranger deck logs and potential buddy statements.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the September 2009 VA examination is not adequate and requires an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all service-connected. The initial rating for GERD remains at 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, sleep disorder, and low back disability due to new evidence submitted since the final denial. However, no specific rating or effective date is assigned as these issues are still pending.

The Veteran's lung disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, and diabetes mellitus, Type II were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of a current disability for any of these conditions.

The VA determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his military service, including an injury he claimed occurred while lifting a missile cone. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability, including arthritis, was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's assertions about injuries during active duty were not supported by medical evidence in his service treatment records.,Service connection was also denied for a lumbar spine disorder on a secondary basis to bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a VA examination to assess the current severity of his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease and spondyloarthritis of the lumbar spine, and allergic rhinitis have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hearing loss, back disability, and right knee disability are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.