Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), kidney disease, neurobehavioral effects, a bilateral leg disorder, respiratory condition, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination and the need for further consideration of a service treatment record from March 4, 1966.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine resulted in symptoms causing abnormal spinal contour or gait, with forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees and a combined range of motion not greater than 120 degrees. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, right knee, and back disabilities due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions. The Veteran is entitled to a new examination and opinion for each issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is service-connected as it was shown to have been present in service and continued thereafter.

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

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a lumbar disability due to inadequate nexus opinions and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an extraschedular rating.,The Veteran's low back disability was not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied for increased ratings from different periods of time. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative spondylosis of the lumbosacral spine, is currently rated at 20 percent and not higher due to lack of evidence showing forward flexion less than 30 degrees or ankylosis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a lumbar spine disorder due to incomplete development of records and an inadequate medical opinion. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to April 14, 2014 is rated at a 20 percent level.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 6, 2001.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection due to presumed exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The left knee and ankle disabilities are remanded for further evaluation, while the lumbosacral strain remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant eligibility are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of recent medical records.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board denied any increase in ratings due to lack of evidence showing ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing concerns raised in the Joint Motion for Remand (JMR). The Veteran's service connection claim is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on housebound status is denied as he does not meet the criteria of having at least one disability rated at 100 percent disabling and another disability or disabilities rated at a combined 60 percent.