Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2025

The Board remands the matter for an opinion addressing the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis, without considering the beneficial effects of medication.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for hypertension and granted an increased rating of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease from April 13, 2022. The effective date for the right lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted as May 10, 2016.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's back disability, finding that it manifests as the functional equivalent of favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the issues of increased rating for back disability, service connection for sleep apnea, left heel, and hemorrhoids, as well as entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 1, 2025, for additional development.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left hand/finger disability, and right foot/ankle disability based on the Veteran's credible reports of continuous symptoms since service.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from February 28, 2018 to June 18, 2024 and denied a higher rating thereafter. The Board also granted a 70 percent disability rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder effective December 1, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus (flat feet) and remanded several other issues, including service connection for various disorders and increased ratings for the right knee. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine disorder, left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve disorders, polycythemia vera, and hand and finger disorders as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, continuity of symptomatology, or a nexus to service.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff strain, and right lower extremity femoral radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including bilateral wrist, ankle, foot, shoulder, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, lumbosacral spine, and carpal tunnel syndrome, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted an earlier effective date for a lumbar spine surgical scar.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation basis and denied service connection for a back condition and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip and thigh condition.

The Board denied increased ratings for various disabilities and granted earlier effective dates for service connection of scars, but denied an earlier effective date for individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 20, 2018, for the award of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to follow and secure substantially gainful employment, thus a total disability rating for individual unemployability is granted.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for a back disability and RLE radiculopathy.

The claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, low back pain, and right shoulder pain are remanded due to a lack of adequate notice for VA examinations. The claims for increased ratings for left and right knee osteoarthritis are also remanded.

The Board remands all service connection claims for further development and to cure pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to an in-service bicycle accident.