Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for SMC purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's upper and lower back disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year thereafter. The current diagnoses are not presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange or other known risk factors.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical evidence and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been granted, but the specific details of the ratings are not provided in the decision summary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that an initial rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted on a schedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for low back disability. The decision is mixed as it grants some issues (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) and denies others (low back disability).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his lumbar spine disability and stomach disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran had a current diagnosis of PTSD, related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbar spine spondyloarthropathy and degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional examination, treatment records review, clarification of TDIU claims, and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to August 1, 1997. The evidence does not support his claim that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and an examination, as well as consideration of a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining certain documents and scheduling a videoconference hearing.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining employment records and VA examination.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent, and his left knee disability remains at 20 percent. The claims for higher ratings are denied.