The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60 percent evaluation for his low back disability was denied.,The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was also denied.,Service connection for the cause of death was not established.

The deciding factor: There is no medical evidence showing that the veteran's low back disability increased in severity prior to November 13, 1998. The preponderance of the evidence did not support an earlier effective date.,The veteran had not been unemployable due to a service-connected disability before his death and there was no evidence of exceptional factors or circumstances that would warrant TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to November 13, 1998. The preponderance of the evidence did not support an earlier effective date for TDIU.,The cause of death (bacteremia, sepsis) was not service-connected and there is no evidence that any service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to the veteran's death. The preponderance of the evidence did not support service connection for the cause of death.

Claimed conditions

herniated nucleus pulpous, L4-L5, fibromyositis, lumbosacral paravertebral muscles

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

August 14, 2006

Citation

0624880

This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0624880.