Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The appeal for service connection for low back strain was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The appeal for service connection for a right shoulder strain was denied, while the appeals for service connection for left ankle strain, right ankle strain, lumbar strain, cervical strain, and bilateral pes planus were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for right knee disability, service connection for adjustment disorder, lumbar spine pain, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder with subclinical features of PTSD and major depressive disorder, as well as a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board remands the matters for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion to clarify the Veteran's pain and functional limitations related to his lower back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 21, 2019, for a disability rating of 30 percent for left knee meniscal tear, ACL tear, and osteoarthritis status post left total knee replacement.

The Board denied service connection for eczema and remanded claims for a left knee condition, psychiatric disorder, and back condition due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for insomnia, right ear hearing loss, and a neck disability. The claims for PTSD and left ear hearing loss were also denied. However, the claims for left knee, right knee, and back disabilities were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, a left shoulder disability, and lumbar strain as there was no current disability. The cervical strain with cervicalgia claim was dismissed as moot due to an April 2025 rating decision granting service connection.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition, to include degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, but denied service connection for a neck condition.

The Board denied a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection, increased ratings for acne and knee disorders, and pes planus.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current condition was related to his military service.

The appeals for effective dates prior to June 6, 2024, for the award of service connection for various radiculopathies and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and IVDS were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection, as well as remanded certain issues for further development.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 5, 2023, for a 100 percent rating for MDD and SMC based on housebound criteria. However, it granted service connection for right ear painful scar, right ear surgical scar, and sleep apnea with an effective date of November 30, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and secondary service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathies based on new and relevant evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left hand disability. The claims for bilateral foot plantar fasciitis and right hand degenerative arthritis were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, as the previous examination did not adequately address the Veteran's symptoms and the effects of medication.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded service connection claims for a back disability, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity.