Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including a lumbosacral spine disability, left lower extremity sciatica, right knee disability, left knee disability, left knee scar, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for a right knee condition and lower back condition to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of January 19, 2024 for the grant of service connection for various conditions including left and right lower extremity radiculopathies and a back condition.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was granted a rating of 20 percent from June 17, 2017, to October 27, 2022, but denied a higher rating prior to October 28, 2022.

The Board remanded the Veteran's eligibility for enrollment in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers because the initial VA decision was conclusory and based on an incorrect interpretation of regulatory requirements for 'need for supervision, protection, or instruction.' A new medical opinion must be obtained that properly applies the correct statutory criteria and addresses how the Veteran's diagnoses affect daily functioning.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis, right and left ankle disabilities, a low back disability, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities as secondary to the low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right lower extremity sciatic nerve pain, left lower extremity sciatic nerve pain, and low back disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of various conditions based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a March 1995 rating decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for migraines, cervical spinal stenosis, a scar on neck, and right ankle disability, as well as increased ratings for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeal for service connection for PTSD was denied due to insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, neck, back, headache, right ankle, right knee, right shoulder, and right elbow disorders, penile disorder (erectile dysfunction), and sleep apnea, to correct a pre-decisional error by verifying the Veteran's duty status in January 2017 and obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer, lumbosacral strain, and a higher rating for TBI.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability was granted a 100 percent rating, and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate was also granted from March 31, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, lumbosacral strain (secondary to service-connected knee and ankle disabilities), hypertension, diabetes, and bilateral hands arthritis due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for a chest pain disability, a lower back disability, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on new and relevant evidence.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that it is as likely as not attributable to a period of annual training.

The Board granted restoration of the 30% rating for IVDS with degenerative arthritis, spondylosis, and cervical strain, as well as the 30% and 40% ratings for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, respectively. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was denied.

The Board grants service connection for a lumbar spine condition, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a back condition, while denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, frequency of micturition, and hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a throat condition, gastrointestinal condition, psychiatric disorder, back condition, elbow conditions, foot pain, leg conditions, migraine headaches, penile condition, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board also denied a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for right shoulder and back pain to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the Veteran's work as a welder and in-service injury.