Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left knee, right knee, lumbosacral strain, and right hand scars, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, tension headaches, shoulder bursitis, foot plantar fasciitis, ankle tendonitis, thumb strain, and PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder. The Board also remanded claims for fatigue, CFS, sleep apnea, and amputated left little finger.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's stress fracture, mid-distal femur, right leg with limited flexion and restored the 30 percent rating for the Veteran's stress fracture, mid-distal femur, right leg with limitation of abduction and rotation. The other claims were denied.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring updated VA records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than those currently assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, but granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc disease (IVDS).

The Veteran's appeal requests for the specified rating decisions were denied as they were not timely filed, and good cause was not shown to accept late filings.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the same condition.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) based on evidence that these conditions began during active service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings for various conditions but granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for left and right pubic symphysis DJD with limitation of hip extension.

The Board granted service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, spinal fusion, and spondylolisthesis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee condition.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to diabetes. It also readjudicated previously denied claims for a low back disability, left ankle, right ankle, and left hip strain with rheumatoid arthritis, granting some but not all.

The Board denied service connection for binge eating disorder and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, but granted a 20 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with limitation of flexion and a separate 10 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with instability.

The Veteran's service connection for migraine headaches was granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, while other conditions were denied.

The Board denied service connection for tingling feet and remanded the claims for a right hip condition and lumbar spine condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted an effective date of March 23, 2011, for the grant of a separate 10 percent rating for left knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion and from March 23, 2011, for a 10 percent rating for right knee joint osteoarthritis, instability or subluxation. The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for the left and right knees and cervical spine, and granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder disability and back disability, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, service connection for residuals of a concussion, and service connection for a back condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) other than intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, finding no evidence of a current disability or sufficient basis to establish service connection.