Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and left hip disorder as they are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Board granted service connection for headaches and restored the 40 percent rating for thoracolumbar sprain, effective June 1, 2024, while denying an increased rating. The Board also remanded a claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and granted increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, remanded claims for service connection for an upper back disability and headaches, and remanded the claim for a compensable rating for left recurrent corneal erosion syndrome.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of May 2, 2018, for service connection for various disabilities.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD with other specified depressive disorder and multiple wrist and finger pain conditions.

The appeal was denied due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board granted an effective date of April 10, 2015, for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and granted initial ratings of 40 percent for both right and left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 10, 2015, to June 1, 2020.

The appeals for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, lumbar spinal stenosis, and psychiatric disorders were dismissed due to untimely notice of disagreement. The proposed rating reductions for lower extremity radiculopathy were also dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, a left leg disability as secondary to the back disability, and insomnia disorder as secondary to the back disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability as secondary to the back disability was remanded.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and denied or remanded the other issues on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot crush injury, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities, also secondary to the newly service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance, while remanding the issue of service connection for a seizures disorder.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability for further development and an adequate medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, emphysema, a chest wall condition, PTSD, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic, a low back condition, TBI, and a chest tumor.

The appeal was granted for service connection for latent tuberculosis and dermatitis of the face, while other claims were denied.

The veteran withdrew all pending appeals on April 28, 2025.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including thoracolumbar and cervical spine conditions, preclude locomotion without the aid of a walker, warranting eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal of all claims currently pending before the Board, including those for an earlier effective date for hypothyroidism and higher ratings for various conditions.