Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and a 30 percent rating for the right shoulder disability, effective October 19, 2023.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine with intervertebral disc (IVDS).

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection and increased rating claims, resulting in the dismissal of these matters without prejudice.

The Board granted service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, left hip condition, GERD, irritable bowel syndrome, back condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot/toe conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and TDIU, as well as SMC based on housebound criteria.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various gout and low back conditions for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, neck disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left elbow disability, and right elbow disability.

The Board remands the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and in excess of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) to ensure compliance with the duty to assist.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a left knee disability, bilateral hip disability, back disability, bilateral leg disability, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disability, as there has not been substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board remands the claims for further development and readjudication due to non-compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The remaining claims for service connection were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis of the scalp, lumbar spine disability, tonsillitis, and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The appeal was remanded to correct errors made by the AOJ in complying with an earlier Board remand, specifically to obtain outstanding private treatment records.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to determine the etiology of various claimed conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability warrants a 40 percent rating from December 3, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder, DMII, heart disorder, right shoulder disorder, hypertension, low back disorder, bladder cancer, and left and right lung disease as the weight of the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for hiatal hernia and abdominal pain, chronic sinusitis (under the PACT Act), and lumbosacral strain. The claims for increased ratings for PTSD and allergic rhinitis were denied, while several other claims were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for TBI and service connection for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, as well as remanded a claim for service connection for GERD.

The Board remands several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, including a back disability, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, and total disability rating due to individual unemployability.