Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his low back disability was denied. The current effective date is not provided as the decision only addresses the issue of increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any service-connected disabilities, and therefore cannot establish service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it due to an undiagnosed illness as a result of service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War. The claim was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The issue of whether service connection is warranted will be addressed on its merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding records and a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for low back, neck, right knee, lung, and bilateral hip disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, pelvic injury, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was granted. The issue of secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) is pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient medical information for evaluation purposes. A new VA examination is required to assess the current severity of his chronic low back pain.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran not showing up for a scheduled videoconference hearing and issues with communication regarding his address. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of low back, left shoulder, and left hip disabilities. However, it did not find new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection of a neck disability.

The Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits were stopped due to an outstanding warrant and his fugitive felon status. The appeal is remanded for further development, including verification of the Veteran's fugitive status.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural deficiencies, including not issuing a statement of the case on the issue of character of discharge. The issues related to service connection and total disability rating are inextricably intertwined with this matter.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for lumbar strain and thoracic paraspinal strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from various healthcare providers.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been increased to 80 percent, and several original service connection claims are pending. The TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination considering all of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals seeking increased ratings for his immersion foot of bilateral lower extremities. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his low back disability was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from specific dates and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar disability and varicose veins have been reopened, but denied on the merits.,Service connection has been granted for right foot pain.

The Board found that the Veteran's hip and lumbar spine disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active military service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection was denied.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for sores on both sides of the feet. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen all other claims.